Pep Guardiola confirms when he expects Rodri to next play for Manchester City following ACL injury
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Pep Guardiola has confirmed Rodri will not play again this season due to the knee injury he suffered in last week’s draw against Arsenal.
The club confirmed on Wednesday that the midfielder had sustained a knee ligament injury, a day after Guardiola said he will have to find a ‘long-term’ solution without Rodri. But on Friday, ahead of the trip to Newcastle United, Guardiola revealed the full extent of the issue.
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Hide Ad“Good surgery this morning. ACL and some meniscus or something. Next season he will be here. This season is over,” the City boss said when asked for a further update on the 28-year-old.
“Unfortunately we got this the worst. At this level sometimes it unfortunately happens and be there to support him. Good recover, step by step and move forward.”
Guardiola spoke at length about finding the ‘solution’ without Rodri earlier this week, even if the answer isn’t obvious at this stage.
“What he gives us, we don’t have a similar player but the other players altogether can replace what Rodri has given since he arrived to us.
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Hide Ad“We have to do it as a team and we have to find the way to play during a lot months without an important player. Everybody knows it and, like all the teams want, is a speedy recovery.
It’s not just the initial recovery that is concerning Guardiola, but getting Rodri back to his best in the long-term.
“When you have an ACL injury, a year after you have a lot of muscular problems for sure,” he said. “That is why it is longer.
“I think Rodri will become his best not after just eight or nine months. We have magnificent players and we will find the solution.”
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