Pep makes decision on Rodri

Pep Guardiola has revealed that Rodri and John Stones have made positive progress in training, but neither are likely to return to Manchester City's starting line-up.

Rodri returned on June 18.

At a press conference ahead of the match against Al Ain in the second round of Group G of the FIFA Club World Cup, Guardiola confirmed the health condition of his favorite student: "Rodri is improving. We cannot forget, it has been almost nine months since that sad day. This injury usually takes 10 to 12 months to recover. He is getting better, and if he plays 20 to 30 minutes it will be good. I know Rodri wants to play, but we have to protect him and make sure the player's knee feels good."

Rodri came on for the final 30 minutes of the 2-0 win over Wydad on June 18, and many Manchester City fans hope the reigning Ballon d'Or winner can start against Al Ain on June 23.

Guardiola admitted that coming on in the win over Wydad helped Rodri improve, but insisted the Spaniard needed to get more minutes. Meanwhile, Stones missed the majority of the 2024/25 season through injury and spent nearly four months without a game.

The England defender is included in the squad but has yet to play a single minute at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup™. Guardiola admitted he wants to monitor Stones' fitness further, hoping the player makes a full recovery.

Guardiola's decision on Rodri and Stones shows that he is extremely cautious, prioritizing the long-term health of the players. Despite Manchester City's high ambitions in the FIFA Club World Cup, Pep is in no rush to use these two players.

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Source: https://znews.vn/pep-ra-phan-quyet-ve-rodri-post1562737.html