When Pep 'reined in' Rodri

Rodri is back.

Rodri is the epitome of fighting spirit and a burning desire to play. He is the type of player any coach would want in his squad – someone who is always willing to contribute, who always puts the team first, and who is ready to return to the pitch as soon as possible, even if it means overcoming the most extreme physical limitations.

But sometimes, those very qualities need to be… restrained. And no one does it better than Pep Guardiola.

When reason wins over emotion

Last September, Rodri suffered a serious injury – a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament – an injury that many players take at least a year to fully recover from. But Rodri refused to accept that scenario.

From the moment he entered the recovery room, he was determined to return as quickly as possible. “The doctor said I needed a year off, but I knew I wouldn’t need 12 months,” he told Spanish television, with unusual determination.

No one can blame Rodri for his eagerness. A player who has just won the Ballon d'Or and is at the peak of his career, it is difficult to bear the feeling of being on the sidelines. He wants to play his final Premier League games, to be part of the Spanish national team in the Nations League, and further into the Club World Cup. For Rodri, time is money, and each match is part of the legacy he is trying to build.

And he kept his word: on May 20, 241 days after his injury, Rodri returned to the pitch against Bournemouth. The moment he stepped onto the pitch in the 83rd minute, everything seemed to be cleared up. But for Guardiola, things had only just begun.

Rodri may have been mentally ready, but Pep knew his body wasn’t. And he didn’t let emotions – his players’ or his own – dictate life-or-death decisions. So, just five days later, against Fulham, Rodri didn’t play a single minute, despite the team’s goal of qualifying for the Champions League.

Pep is not in a hurry to use Rodri.

On May 26, the list of the Spanish national team was announced. Rodri was not included. For many, it was a surprise, even a disappointment. But coach Luis de la Fuente's statement was brief and complete: "Rodri has just returned after eight months and has only played 10 minutes. That's all."

Behind that statement is a whole strategy. Pep quietly influences, gives advice and protects his students with the authority and trust he has built up over many years at Man City. In the context of Rodri's great desire to return, Guardiola is the one who pulls him away from the hasty cycle of fame. Not to restrain, but to protect.

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup™ is a grand stage where continental champions compete to assert their global status. Rodri, with his stature and class, deserves to be on the pitch. But Pep remains firm in his principles: cautious, step by step.

Against Wydad, Rodri came off the bench and played about half an hour. The same against Al Ain - another 29 minutes from the bench. In total, he has played just an hour since his return. Not much, but enough to get his rhythm right, to get used to the high intensity again. And most importantly, to avoid any mistakes that could make the past 11 months meaningless.

Rodri is being used carefully by Man City.

After the Al Ain game, Pep said: “He played well, for more than half an hour. But it was difficult, that’s normal – he’s had a long injury. We miss Rodri a lot, but everything has to be done slowly.”

Take your time with what is most precious.

Rodri is more than just a great midfielder. He is a pillar, a moderator, a tactical brain of Man City. And for Guardiola, such an asset needs to be preserved with absolute patience. Pep understands that in modern football, with its tight schedule and enormous pressure surrounding every step, haste is the cruelest enemy.

By holding Rodri back when he most wanted him, Pep has demonstrated a very special kind of power - not the power to impose, but the power to protect. And thanks to that, Rodri has the opportunity to return not just to play a few games at the end of the season, but to continue to be the soul of Man City for many years to come.

In the calculating world of football, sometimes the right thing to do is not to rush forward, but to stop at the right moment. And Guardiola, as usual, knew exactly when that moment was.

Source: https://znews.vn/khi-pep-ghim-cuong-rodri-post1563221.html