Pep Guardiola Warns Rodri Will Likely Miss Key Manchester City Matches Against Villarreal and Aston Villa Due to Hamstring Injury in England

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is dealing with a headache in midfield as the team prepares for a testing run of fixtures next week.

The Spaniard has confirmed doubts over Rodri’s availability for both the Champions League clash with Villarreal and the Premier League trip to Aston Villa.

The Spain international has been hampered by a hamstring injury, adding to a frustrating sequence of fitness setbacks since the Club World Cup.

Guardiola stressed that he will not risk Rodri prematurely, even against his former club Villarreal.

Rodri’s Injury Woes Continue

Rodri, 29, has endured a stop-start season with three separate injury problems since the start of the Club World Cup.

He was eager to play after recovering from a recent issue, only to be forced off early during City’s 1-0 victory at Brentford before the international break.

Guardiola explained, “I don’t think so for Villarreal—or Aston Villa.

It’s not a long-term problem, but it’s muscular, and we have to be careful. We’ve tried so many times, but we haven’t been able to manage it properly. We’ll see.”

If Rodri misses both upcoming matches, the hamstring issue will have sidelined him for more than three weeks, leaving Guardiola to consider alternatives.

Kovacic Returns, Gonzalez Impresses

In Rodri’s absence, Nico Gonzalez has continued to shine.

The young midfielder excelled in Saturday’s win over Everton and has been steadily growing into a key defensive role.

Meanwhile, Mateo Kovacic made his first appearance since May following an Achilles surgery, though Guardiola cautioned that the Croatian is not yet ready for a full 90 minutes.

“Kovacic has a special quality with the ball,” Guardiola said. “We cannot forget he’s coming from surgery, three or four months out.

I want him for 90 minutes, 90 minutes, 90 minutes, but we don’t have that feeling yet.

Even 20 or 30 minutes is useful, and the players we have can play in different ways—they’re extraordinary.”

Looking Ahead to Villa

City face a notoriously difficult fixture at Villa Park, where they haven’t won since 2021.

With Rodri’s status uncertain, Guardiola may have to rely on Gonzalez, Kovacic in limited minutes, and other squad options to maintain their Premier League momentum.

The Spaniard’s careful approach highlights City’s commitment to protecting key players while navigating a packed schedule, balancing fitness with the need for results on multiple fronts.