Rodri Injury Update and Guardiola's Ambitions Ahead of Everton Clash
Midfielder Rodri will be sidelined for Saturday's Premier League match against Everton due to an injury, and manager Pep Guardiola is uncertain about his return timeline.
The 29-year-old Rodri reported feeling discomfort in his hamstring after leaving the pitch just 22 minutes into the victory against Brentford prior to the international break.
Rodri, who won the 2024 men's Ballon d'Or for being the best footballer of the year, had a challenging previous season, spending most of it on the sidelines after suffering a significant knee injury early in the campaign.
He made his return during the penultimate match of the season against Bournemouth and participated in the Club World Cup. However, Guardiola indicated in August that Rodri had encountered another injury setback.
Rodri missed the season opener against Wolves, and although he has played seven times for Manchester City across all competitions, Guardiola mentioned that the club has been cautious with him, as he has completed a full 90 minutes in only two matches this season.
In other news, midfielder Mateo Kovacic is available for selection after not featuring so far this term, while Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri have returned to training and are nearing a comeback, according to Guardiola.
Guardiola's Unfinished Business
Guardiola, who joined Manchester City in 2016, is nearing a decade at the club, during which he has secured six Premier League titles, the Champions League, and two FA Cups.
He is currently the longest-serving manager in the English top flight and will face Everton's David Moyes, who has overseen more than 700 Premier League matches.
City is on a streak of seven unbeaten games in all competitions and aims to rectify the disappointment of the previous season, which marked their first campaign without a major trophy in eight years.
"I still feel that I have the energy to help the players have a better season than last year," Guardiola stated. "That is my target. I never sit here in November claiming we will win this or that. I cannot predict the outcome against Everton, but we have made progress since being far from the top of the league before the international break. Now, we are closer.
"We aspire to be competitive in all competitions. That is my goal, and I see improvements in our performance compared to last season. We are getting better with each game. This motivates me, as I believe there is unfinished business to attend to, and that is why I am here."