The European champion Rodri returned to the training ground around seven months after the tear of the front cruciate ligament last week. Does the Spaniard give his comeback in front of the club World Cup?
Pep Guardiola does not categorically exclude a comeback by the long injured balloon d’Or winner Rodri at Manchester City before the World Cup (from June 14). “The moment the physiotherapist and the doctor say ‘Rodri can start playing’, he will start playing,” said the Spanish star coach of the Citizens on Thursday: “But the doctors have to tell me that.”
Also an assignment in the FA Cup final on May 17 in Wembley against Crystal Palace does not seem to be completely off the table after Rodri’s return to the training square last Friday had already lived hopes for a timely comeback. The 28-year-old Spanish international, who suffered a tear of the front cruciate ligament in September shortly after the start of the season, originally wanted to return to the club World Cup in time.
“We are very happy that Rodri will take part in the training again,” said Guardiola against the Wolverhampton Wanderers at the press conference on Friday (9:00 p.m./Sky): “He feels really good, he does unity every day, but we have to avoid that there is a step back or that it is injured again and again. So you have to be careful.”
In the next round in the fight for the Champions League qualification against Wolverhampton, Rodri will not be there yet-as is most likely star storms Erling Haaland, which has been canceled for almost two months due to an ankle injury. “It will be better, but I think: not,” said Guardiola about the Norwegians’ opportunities.