Rodri’s injury situation has been a concern for Manchester City as Pep Guardiola confirmed the team will continue to be without influential midfielder for at least another week. Also, City now contends with a new concern following a late injury to Nico O’Reilly.
Rodri’s injury concerns continues to trouble the Sky Blues, who were hoping to have him back in contention for the clash against Everton on Saturday.
The Spaniard had skipped international duty to focus on recovering from the hamstring strain he suffered in the early stages of City’s match against Brentford earlier this month.
Initially, the midfielder did not consider the problem serious, but the club’s medical staff have opted for a cautious approach to avoid aggravating the injury.
The 29-year-old was once again missing from the matchday squad at the Etihad, having not joined the team in full training sessions.
Guardiola confirmed after the 2–0 win over Everton that Rodri will not be involved in the next two fixtures against Villarreal in the Champions League and Aston Villa in the Premier League, with a potential return pencilled in for the League Cup tie at Swansea later this month.
“It’s not long, but it’s muscular and you have to be careful,” Guardiola said. “We’ve tried so many times, we’ve tried to not take a risk, but we have not been able to do that. So we will see.”
The City boss remains keen to avoid any setback to one of his most important players, who has been instrumental in dictating the rhythm of City’s play since his arrival from Atlético Madrid.
The team’s performances have shown noticeable dips whenever Rodri is unavailable, making his full recovery a top priority for Guardiola’s side as they enter a demanding stretch of fixtures.
Fresh Concern as O’Reilly Suffers Late Knock
City’s problems were compounded late in the Everton match when 20-year-old left-back Nico O’Reilly was forced off the pitch with what appeared to be a knee issue.
The youngster, who has impressed in recent weeks, had provided the assist for Erling Haaland’s opening goal before appearing to land awkwardly after challenging for a header in the final minutes of the game.
O’Reilly has been one of the standout figures of City’s early season, earning his eighth consecutive start on Saturday. His creativity, energy, and defensive work rate have made him a vital option on the left flank.
However, his substitution prompted concern among the coaching staff and supporters, particularly as he left the stadium with his knee bandaged.
Guardiola offered a cautious update after the match, expressing hope that the injury is not serious as the team prepares for Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Spain.
“I think it was a knock. We’ll see. Hopefully it will not be dangerous,” he said.
City will be eager to have O’Reilly available for the trip to Villarreal, with three points enough to move them to seven from their opening three games — a strong position in their bid to qualify comfortably from the group.
Guardiola’s side are looking to make amends for last season’s disappointment, when they failed to progress beyond the play-off stage of Europe’s elite competition.
While Guardiola has emphasised the importance of securing results at home, he recognises that winning away from the Etihad could provide City with much-needed breathing space before the knockout rounds.
- Pep Guardiola confirms three Manchester City starters for Villarreal clash
- After he sold him, Guardiola admits he wants ex-Man City player back
After facing Villarreal, City will return to Premier League action against Aston Villa, before hosting Borussia Dortmund at the Etihad in two weeks’ time — a fixture that marks the halfway point of the Champions League group phase.
The coming weeks will test the depth and adaptability of Guardiola’s squad. With Rodri’s injury situation continuing and O’Reilly’s fitness uncertain, the City manager may be forced to shuffle his options in midfield and defence once more.
Players such as Mateo Kovačić and Rico Lewis could be called upon to step into more prominent roles, as the Premier League champions aim to maintain their momentum across multiple fronts.
Despite these setbacks, City have shown resilience under Guardiola, managing to stay competitive even when key players are sidelined.
