Guardiola hints that Rodri will make swift Man City return

TL;DR

Rodri's groin injury is less severe than initially feared, but he will miss Manchester City's upcoming match against Burnley. Guardiola remains optimistic about Rodri's return for the FA Cup semi-final against Southampton or the league match against Everton.

Key points

Rodri's injury is not as serious as initially feared
He will miss the match against Burnley
Guardiola is optimistic about Rodri's return for the FA Cup semi-final
Rodri has been instrumental in City's title race
City faces a demanding schedule ahead

Manchester CityBurnleyEvertonSouthampton

Rodri's groin injury is not as serious as first feared for Manchester City (Darren Staples) (Darren Staples/AFP/AFP) Pep Guardiola has eased Manchester City's fears that Rodri could be ruled out for the remainder of the Premier League season, but the Spain midfielder is set to miss Wednesday's trip to Burnley. The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner was instrumental to City's critical 2-1 win over title rivals Arsenal on Sunday before being forced off late on with a groin problem. Rodri, 29, is unlikely to feature as City aim to go top of the table for the first time this year at Turf Moor. But City then have 12 days until their next league game at Everton as they face Southampton in Saturday's FA Cup semi-final. "I think for tomorrow he will not be ready," Guardiola said at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday. "We'll see for next games, the semi-final against Southampton or against Everton." Rodri's return to form after an injury-disrupted 18 months has played a major role in City's surge back into the title race as he has formed a dominant midfield partnership alongside Bernardo Silva. "Both are experienced, they have a huge special personality," added Guardiola. "They are not young guys anymore, experienced guys, but played a lot of this type of games and know how it must be played. They were exceptional." Even if City win to condemn Burnley to relegation, they will still only be level on points with Arsenal with five games to go. Momentum is with Guardiola's men, but he is wary of a tougher run-in for his side which includes visits to Everton and Bournemouth, who are both in the running to qualify for Europe next season. "Both teams know we cannot lose or drop points," said Guardiola, who is aiming to win a seventh league title in nine seasons. "It will be difficult to recover and our calendar is so demanding. The opponents are really tough." kca/pi

Q&A

How serious is Rodri's groin injury for Manchester City?

Rodri's groin injury is not as serious as first feared, allowing for a potential swift return.

When will Rodri return to play for Manchester City?

Rodri is expected to miss the match against Burnley but could return for the FA Cup semi-final or the league match against Everton.

What impact does Rodri's injury have on Manchester City's title race?

Rodri's absence is significant as he has been crucial to City's midfield, impacting their momentum in the title race.