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Manchester City have been dealt a significant blow in the Premier League title race after Rodri was ruled out of Wednesday night’s crucial trip to Burnley.
The Spanish midfielder suffered a groin injury during City’s victory over Arsenal on Sunday, forcing him off in the 88th minute after playing almost the entire match at the Etihad Stadium.
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Pep Guardiola confirmed at his pre-match press conference that the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner will not be available for the midweek fixture against the Clarets.
“I think for tomorrow he will not be ready,” Guardiola said on Tuesday.
The City boss also cast doubt over Rodri’s availability for this weekend’s FA Cup semi-final against Southampton at Wembley, though the club will have more time to assess his condition.
“We’ll see in the next games, semi-final against Southampton or in 12, 13 days against Everton,” Guardiola added.
Nico Gonzalez ready to step up
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In Rodri’s absence, Nico Gonzalez is expected to fill the void in City’s midfield. Guardiola praised the young midfielder’s contributions throughout the campaign.
“Nico Gonzalez has helped us a lot, a lot this season in the absence of Rodri, and he’s helped us to be in the position that we are right now,” the City manager said.
The timing of Rodri’s injury could hardly be worse for City as they chase a domestic treble. Victory at Turf Moor would see the reigning champions move to the top of the Premier League table, putting pressure on Arsenal in the title race.
Injury concerns mount
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City’s injury list continues to grow, with Ruben Dias also unavailable for the Burnley clash due to an ongoing ankle problem. The Portuguese defender’s absence compounds Guardiola’s defensive concerns.
Rodri has endured a frustrating season with injuries, having missed a significant portion of the first half of the campaign with a hamstring issue. The midfielder has also been working his way back to full fitness following an ACL injury that disrupted the end of last season.
However, recent weeks had seen Rodri return to something closer to his best form, making his latest setback all the more concerning for City’s title ambitions.
The international break provides a potential window for recovery, with City not facing Everton in the Premier League until May 4. Guardiola will be hoping his key midfielder can return for the final push of what remains a tightly contested title race.