Rodri has been left out of the Man City matchday squad for tonight's Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmund - and Pep Guardiola has revealed why.
Rodri is missing from the Manchester City squad to take on Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League
Rodri is missing from the Manchester City squad to take on Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League
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Pep Guardiola has explained why Rodri is missing from the Manchester City squad to take on Borussia Dortmund tonight. City, who beat Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, are looking to make it back-to-back wins in Europe against the Bundesliga giants.
Rodri only returned to action at the weekend as he made a late substitute appearance in the 3-1 win over the Cherries. The midfielder had previously missed four games - across all competitions - either side of the October international break.
And with Liverpool to come on Sunday, Guardiola has revealed that the Spain international "doesn't feel perfect", so it was decided not to take the risk.
Speaking to TNT Sports, he said: "He doesn't feel perfect so that is why we don't take a risk. He will come up so this little, little, little setback makes you realise everything.
"A bit more time to feel good and play football, it doesn't matter good or bad, knowing that it is fine and he will not be out for a while."
Guardiola also named Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva on the bench for the game at the Etihad Stadium, but refused to reveal if he had selected his side with Arne Slot's side in mind.
He continued: "You don't know me. After 10 seasons I am sorry to tell you that you don't know me. I decide never to select a team that you don't believe is the best to win a game. Never ever."
Pep Guardiola greets Liverpool managed Arne Slot last season.
Pep Guardiola greets Liverpool managed Arne Slot last season.
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Liverpool made it back-to-back wins in all competitions with a 1-0 Champions League victory over Real Madrid at Anfield on Tuesday night.
And Reds boss Slot said post-match: "It is nicer if you win games than if you lose as a manager. If you lose then it takes all of your time because you so badly want to change it, but you also try to be the same manager and same person that you are when you are winning.
"I did the same, told them that with our set-piece balance it is really hard to win games of football, open-play chance creation was good all season apart from the Aston Villa game, which we won.
"So I tried to tell them what was actually happening - instead of all the noise around them. The only thing I can do is tell them my opinion and hope it is strong enough for them to believe me."
"Sunday [against Manchester City] is another game coming up against a very strong team. We have lost too many points in the Premier League, but in the Champions League we are doing well.
"We need to do better and that is what we are going to try and there's a lot of games for us to show that."
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