Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said that influential midfielder Rodri could make his return from injury before the end of the season, in what would be a big boost in their battle with Chelsea for the Champions League places.
City currently sit in fourth place in the table, just one point ahead of Chelsea in fifth position. There is a possibility that the top five will qualify for the Champions League at the end of the season. But the teams currently in those positions have another group, including Newcastle and Bournemouth, snapping at their heels.
The injury to Rodri has had a big impact on City. Their poor run of form without the Spaniard led to them virtually giving up on retaining their title for a fifth straight season.
Rodri has been out since suffering a anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in the 2-2 draw against Arsenal back in September. At the time, Guardiola claimed that the player would be out for the remainder of the season.
However, following footage showing Rodri doing individual work out on the grass, he now seems to have backtracked on that statement.
“The fans must know they are not the only ones who are excited,” he told reporters. “But one step at a time, we don’t have to make stupid decisions to come back weeks earlier and steps back. It’s good but still he’s not close to coming back, I would say.
“But he’s touching the ball and he was in the locker room making touches with the players. He feels confident, he feels more happy. I could not expect before [him to return] but maybe before the end of the season in the Premier League, maybe, it’s going to happen.”
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