August 12th 2024.
It's been a while since we last saw Rodri on the field for Manchester City. The star player has yet to return after his triumphant win in Euro 2024. This means that the reigning champions are most likely going to have to start their new Premier League season without him when they face Chelsea this Sunday.
As if facing Chelsea on the opening weekend of the 2024/25 season wasn't challenging enough, City will also have to go up against their former assistant Enzo Maresca, who now manages the Blues. It's a tough match, and it will be even tougher without Rodri, who seems to be unavailable due to an injury he sustained during the Euros final.
Unfortunately, Rodri wasn't able to participate in the pre-season training either, as he was given some extra time off to recover from the intense tournament. And he's not the only one. City's English trio, John Stones, Kyle Walker, and Phil Foden, were also given some time to rest after their involvement in the Euros. However, they have now returned to training and are in the running to play against Chelsea.
But it seems like Rodri won't be joining them until Wednesday, which doesn't leave much time for him to get back in shape for the Chelsea match. It's highly unlikely that he will be able to start, and we can expect to see him back in action against Ipswich Town on August 24th. The absence of such a key player is a significant loss for City, but they have been preparing for this possibility.
In the Community Shield match against Manchester United last Saturday, City's manager Pep Guardiola had Mateo Kovacic playing as a defensive midfielder, and he did a great job. Kovacic himself commented that Guardiola had been helping him adapt to this new role. We can expect to see Kovacic filling in for Rodri until he returns.
Speaking of injuries, City's new signing Jack Grealish is also facing some fitness issues. He missed the Community Shield match, and Guardiola has revealed that he is doubtful for the Chelsea clash as well. The manager doesn't want to take any risks with Grealish's health, and he hopes to have him back in action soon, maybe even for the Chelsea match, but definitely by the time they face Ipswich Town. Guardiola understands the importance of having all his players in top shape, and he doesn't want to risk any long-term injuries.
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