Pep Guardiola has never been a manager to rush his most important players back into action, and his handling of Rodri’s return from injury has followed the same careful pattern.
Manchester City’s midfield general has endured a frustrating spell on the sidelines, and while his absence has been keenly felt, Guardiola has stressed that the priority is not speed, but mindset.
Despite Rodri’s influence, he has started only four of City’s 18 matches this season and has not featured since early October, following a knee issue picked up away at Brentford.
The injury disrupted his rhythm at a time when City were already navigating a demanding campaign across domestic and European competitions.
Since then, Guardiola has been without one of the defining figures of his recent success, a player widely regarded as the balance and control behind their dominance.
City’s medical staff have adopted a cautious approach, aware that Rodri’s importance extends beyond a short-term boost in results. The club are confident that the physical side of his recovery is progressing well, but Guardiola believes that the final step is psychological.
For him, Rodri’s influence is not only about interceptions, passing accuracy or tactical intelligence, but about the confidence and enjoyment he brings onto the pitch.
According to MEN, speaking ahead of City’s New Year fixtures, Guardiola was clear that happiness, rather than pressure, will be the key to seeing the best version of the midfielder again.
“We miss him a lot. The only thing I want is Rodri to be happy. That’s all I want. The knee I know is fine, the muscles are fine. I want the Rodri that we met, his joy in playing, his presence and body language and this kind of stuff. I want it for him, for the team, of course, selfishly,” he said.
The comments reflect Guardiola’s long-held belief that footballers perform best when they feel mentally free.
Rodri’s influence and role at City demands constant concentration and positional discipline, but Guardiola wants that responsibility to be matched with enjoyment. Only then, he feels, can the Spaniard rediscover the form that made him one of the standout players in world football over the last two seasons.
Rodri’s recent absence has forced Guardiola to rethink his midfield options. Mateo Kovacic has also spent time out injured, while younger players have been asked to shoulder greater responsibility.
Nico Gonzalez, in particular, has been handed opportunities to grow into the system, and Guardiola has spoken positively about his development.
“We want him. Hopefully, step by step, he can be involved with us. Of course, the other players; we miss [Mateo] Kovacic as well a lot. Nico [Gonzalez] has been top. He’s still young.
“He wants to learn and improve. He still has margin to improve as a player, but he’s top. I’ve said many times, we miss him a lot, last season, Rodri. But not just him.”
The City manager has been keen to avoid framing Rodri’s absence as the sole reason for any inconsistencies in performance. Injuries have affected several areas of the squad, and Guardiola has repeatedly highlighted the collective nature of the challenge.
However, he has also acknowledged that losing a player of Rodri’s stature inevitably has a significant impact.
Two seasons ago, Rodri was central to City’s historic treble-winning campaign and their run of four consecutive Premier League titles.
His ability to dictate tempo, break up play and deliver decisive moments in big matches elevated him into the conversation for the very best in the world. Guardiola believes that influence cannot simply be replaced.
“The season would have been better if we’d just only missed Rodri. You’re right, when you miss the best player in the world two seasons ago – an incredible figure to make a treble and four Premier Leagues in a row. A massively important figure. You miss him, of course.”
- Manchester City submit €25 million offer for young Barcelona superstar – report
- Pep Guardiola names four players behind Man City success in 2025
Guardiola also pointed to the length of Rodri’s absence as a crucial factor. Short-term injuries can be managed through rotation and tactical tweaks, but extended periods without a key player inevitably test even the deepest squads.
“For one week, three weeks, you can handle it. More than one year and a half, it’s a lot of time. With Rodri we are a stronger team, There’s no doubt about that.”
City’s performances without Rodri earlier in the season were described by some as unconvincing, with moments of vulnerability in midfield areas that he would usually protect. Yet Guardiola has insisted that patience will be rewarded, both with Rodri and the squad as a whole.
Meanwhile, despite a shaky opening to the 2025/26 campaign, City have steadied themselves over the past three months. Results have improved in both the Premier League and the Champions League, with Guardiola’s side once again showing the control and resilience that have defined their recent dominance.
A run of impressive performances has placed City firmly back in the title race. Victory away at Sunderland on New Year’s Day would see them remain just two points behind leaders Arsenal at the halfway stage of the season, underlining how quickly momentum can shift in the Premier League.
