Pep Guardiola has reportedly revealed that Rodri has suffered an injury setback during Manchester City’s surprising loss to Al-Hilal in the FIFA Club World Cup.
During Monday night’s exciting last-16 match in Orlando, the Ballon d’Or winner, who has intensified his recovery from a long-term knee injury in the United States this summer, was introduced in place of Ilkay Gundogan early in the second half.
But in a seven-goal epic at Camping World Stadium, Rodri was later replaced before halftime in extra time.
City then sent on Phil Foden, who levelled the score at 3-3 before Marcos Leonardo’s second goal later settled the score and prevented them from the lottery of a penalty shootout.
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According to The Irish Independent, when asked about the decision to substitute his star midfielder after the game, Guardiola replied only: “Rodri – he complained about his situation.”
Rodri played in all four of City’s Club World Cup games, starting one and coming off the bench three times. He spent more than an hour in the team’s 5-2 thumping of Juventus in Group G, and Guardiola showered him with praise.
After making his first appearance since suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament against Arsenal in September in the penultimate Premier League match of the season at home against Bournemouth, he playeda combined 172 minutes in the tournament as a substitute against Wydad AC, Al Ain, and Al-Hilal.
Guardiola, who had previously acknowledged that his team’s participation in the contentious competition could “destroy” their next Premier League campaign with all of their rivals except Chelsea excluded, was frustrated by City’s unexpected loss to Al-Hilal but insisted his team would now “rest and rest our minds for the new season.”
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