Guardiola Welcomes Rodri’s Return but Doubts FA Cup Final Participation

 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expressed relief at midfielder Rodri’s return to training on April 30, 2025, after a three-month absence due to a knee ligament injury sustained in a September 2024 Premier League match against Arsenal. 

Speaking ahead of the FA Cup final against Tottenham on May 24, Guardiola cautioned that Rodri’s participation remains uncertain, citing the need for full fitness to compete in the high-stakes match at Wembley. Rodri, a Ballon d’Or contender, played 50 matches last season, contributing nine goals and 14 assists, making his potential absence a blow to City’s treble ambitions.

Rodri resumed light training at City’s Etihad Campus, completing 30-minute sessions without pain, but medical staff estimate a two-week timeline for match readiness, potentially missing the final. Guardiola praised Rodri’s resilience, noting his 70% win rate in matches since joining in 2019, but stressed caution to avoid re-injury, with City facing a packed schedule of seven games in May. The team, leading the Premier League by three points, has relied on Mateo Kovacic and Ilkay Gundogan in Rodri’s absence, though their 60% pass accuracy lags behind Rodri’s 92%, per Opta stats.

The FA Cup final, a rematch of City’s 2024 semi-final win over Tottenham, carries added weight after City’s 2023 triumph. Tottenham’s Ange Postecoglou confirmed his squad’s fitness, with 80% possession in recent games, posing a tactical challenge. 

Guardiola’s uncertainty reflects City’s injury woes, with 10 players missing at least five games this season, per Premier League data. Fans anticipate Rodri’s return for a June 1 Champions League quarter-final, but his final status hinges on medical clearance. City’s pursuit of a fifth consecutive league title and second FA Cup in three years underscores the stakes, with Guardiola banking on squad depth to navigate the tight turnaround.

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