Manchester City will have to cope without Rodri once again when they face Leeds United at the Etihad this weekend. Pep Guardiola explained that the midfielder is still not available, even though he’s edging closer to full fitness. SoftFootball already reported on City’s narrow win over Brentford, the match where Rodri felt the hamstring problem.
The situation has been pretty closely followed too, especially after an earlier SoftFootball update noted how uncertain his return timeline looked at the time.
During his pre-match briefing, Guardiola gave a short explanation in a post shared by Fabrizio Romano on his official X account that Rodri is not ready yet but is moving in the right direction. He did not sound worried, just realistic.
Check the post below:
The midfielder has been working through the final part of recovery, though he still needs a bit more time before stepping back into the rhythm of matches.
His last start was way back in early October against Monaco in the Champions League, and since then he has only made a brief substitute appearance in the Bournemouth win. It’s been an uneven season for him, honestly.
This hamstring issue adds on to what has already been a tough stretch. Rodri practically lost the whole 2024–25 season after tearing his ACL in a match against Arsenal, a moment that almost did not feel real considering he received the Ballon d’Or while still moving around on crutches.
He finally returned this season, played a handful of games, and then the setback arrived again. It’s no surprise City are being very careful with him now. There is quiet talk around the club that the EFL Cup quarter-final against Brentford on December 17 might be a realistic point to ease him back in, but nothing is locked in.
City have eight matches packed into a 29-day run, so the squad will need depth and a bit of luck. Mateo Kovacic remains out too because of a heel problem that has taken longer than expected. For now, City simply have to adapt and hope Rodri’s comeback arrives at the right moment instead of being a rushed one.
