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New Delhi: Manchester City is set to get a boost with their Ballon d'Or winner, Rodri, making a comeback in the squad. Manager Pep Guardiola, ahead of their clash against Tottenham Hotspur, confirmed that Rodri is fit and will be there for the first home game of the season.
Not just him, but Phil Foden and Enderson are also ready to make a comeback. Both Rodri and Foden travelled to Wolves but were not part of the matchday squad. In his pre-match conference, he said, “They were not [ready] for 90 minutes against Wolves but they were ready and of course they are ready for tomorrow.”
Rodri missed much of the 2024/25 season after tearing his ACL and then picked up an injury. He played just three games after an injury against Arsenal and returned for the campaign's penultimate fixture.
Guardiola is not concerned about any decline in the Spaniard's performance but desires his consistent presence in the league games, as City suffered a significant difference in performances with and without him. Before the Citizens' 4-0 triumph over Wolves, they had won just 61.7% of matches without him compared to 73.2% with him. He said, “He’s still the best player in the world. I don’t have any doubts.”
With the transfer window closed on September 1, the manager brushed aside speculation including rumours of Manuel Akanji being linked with Galatasaray. He responded, “I don’t know. They’re our players for now, and we will see what happens. Some movement is expected, but time will tell.”
The upcoming match against Tottenham presents an opportunity for Rodri to showcase his skills and the capabilities he possesses as he returns to action. His presence will add energy to Man City players as they aim to climb back and lift the trophy.
Guardiola’s faith in Rodri highlights just how vital the midfielder is to Manchester City’s rhythm, with his consistency central to sustaining their dominance all season.
