Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that midfielder Rodri has returned to training following a serious knee injury, but the Spaniard remains uncertain whether the 28-year-old will be fit in time for the FA Cup final later this month.
Rodri has been sidelined since September after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal. The Ballon d’Or winner was initially expected to miss the rest of the season.
“We are really pleased that Rodri is back in the training sessions,” Guardiola said at a press conference on Thursday.
“The moment the physio and doctor say Rodri can start to play minutes, after that he will start to play minutes. But the doctors have to tell me.”
Manchester City face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final at Wembley on May 17, as they aim to win the competition for a second consecutive year.
Rodri’s potential return could provide a significant boost, though Guardiola warned against rushing the player’s recovery.
“It was a difficult injury—seven to eleven months, the doctors said,” he explained. “He feels really good every day making sessions, but we have to avoid making a step backwards or getting injured again.”
Guardiola was firm when asked about the likelihood of Rodri featuring at Wembley. “I am not a doctor,” he stated.
In addition to Rodri, striker Erling Haaland is also nearing a return but is unlikely to play in Friday’s Premier League fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
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“He’s getting better, but I don’t think so,” Guardiola said regarding Haaland’s availability for the upcoming match.
City currently sit fourth in the Premier League table, 21 points behind newly crowned champions Liverpool.
They are one point ahead of Chelsea and Nottingham Forest in the race for a top-five finish and Champions League qualification.
Despite reaching another FA Cup final and staying in contention for Europe, Guardiola dismissed suggestions that this could be considered a successful season.
“This season has not been good,” he said. “We are a thousand million points behind Liverpool.”
Manchester City host Wolves at the Etihad Stadium on Friday night.