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pep guardiola confirmed it rodri Still not fit enough to return Manchester City The team and Nico Gonzalez’s Sunday trip was questionable Aston Villa,
The 29-year-old midfielder has been absent from City’s side since the international break after picking up an injury during the 1-0 win over Brentford at the start of October.
Rodri has lost two matches against Everton Premier League and Villarreal in the Champions League, Guardiola did not give any update on his recovery time.
“Those who were not able [to play] Still not ready against Villarreal,” he admitted during the pre-match press conference on Friday.
González was replacing Rodri in the anchor role at the base of City’s midfield, but he was taken off on the hour mark against Villarreal and replaced by Mateo Kovacic.
Guardiola revealed that his availability for the Villa clash is in doubt and the club will see how he performs over the next few days.
“I haven’t seen the doctors, we’ll see today and tomorrow how he feels,” the City boss explained. “It was something with his legs.”
Man City have won five of their eight league matches so far and have moved up to second in the table, just three points behind Arsenal, with Liverpool’s form declining.
Guardiola was asked if City are now favorites to challenge the Gunners for the title, but he feels it is still too early to know for sure.
“In the first two, three games we were finished and now it looks like Liverpool is finished,” Guardiola said.
“I will tell you that we will support, I have said many times that pundits, experts, former football players know what is going to happen after five matches, I am not able to do that.
“10, 15 games to find out what’s going on. Liverpool and Arsenal are there, someone else will be there and hopefully we can be there.”
Guardiola also gave some insight into Sunday’s match, describing Unai Emery’s side as ‘a complete team’. City have not won their last three meetings at Villa Park since December 2021, with two defeats and a draw.
Guardiola admitted of City’s upcoming opponents, “They were much better than us in the two games we played at Villa Park.”
“Hopefully it will be different on Sunday. The admiration I have for Unai [Emery] So high, consistent and well prepared.
“Defensively really good, set-pieces too and after that they have improved a lot over the years. It is difficult for them to control the pressure with the keeper. They bring a lot of players in the middle, the connection is really good, they break the lines and when that happens they are very fast.
“Really a complete team…one of the toughest games we’ve had away from home all season.”