Man City fans are keen to see Erling Haaland and Rodri return to action.
The duo are essential to Pep Guardiola’s side and both have been absent for the last five weeks, which funnily enough, has coincided with City’s best form of the season as the Manchester club are undefeated across eight games as solutions have now been found.
Haaland picked up an ankle injury in Man City’s FA Cup win over Bournemouth at the end of March, while Rodri has been out of action since September, having picked up a serious knee injury against Arsenal, which is one of the reasons why the season has been underwhelming for Guardiola’s team.
Guardiola provided an update on both players ahead of Man City’s clash with Wolves on Friday and the Spanish coach needs to take a risk before the summer, which could have an impact on the duo.
Pep Guardiola provides injury update on Erling Haaland and Rodri
Man City fans were full of joy after Rodri was spotted in training this week, while Haaland has been providing his own injury updates on the road to his recovery in recent days.
Guardiola stated on Friday at his press conference that both are still absent for Man City’s clash with Wolves and that both will start playing minutes once they have been given the green light by club doctors.
“He’s getting better… I don’t think [he will be involved vs Wolves],” Guardiola told the press about Haaland.
Guardiola would go on to say later in the press conference about the fitness of Haaland and Rodri: “We are really pleased Erling [Haaland] and Rodri are back in the training sessions. The moment the physio and doctor say they can start to play minutes, they will start to play.
“The doctors have to tell me. [They’re] difficult injuries – seven to 11 months out. The doctors said he [Rodri] feels really good in the sessions, but we have to wait. [We don’t want] to make a step backwards and be injured again. That is why we have to be careful.”
Man City still have a lot to play for this season and before the campaign comes to an end, Guardiola will have to risk playing both stars as he will want them fit for the FIFA Club World Cup this summer.
- READ MORE: Man City predicted XI vs Wolves as Pep Guardiola ready to give the nod to ‘unbelievable’ £55m star
Man City need to take Erling Haaland and Rodri risk
Man City will compete in the FA Cup final on May 17 against Crystal Palace, while their FIFA Club World Cup campaign gets underway on June 18 against Wydad AC, with Guardiola aiming to win both to salvage a poor season for the Manchester club.
City will hope to have Haaland back for the Wembley showpiece and both for the entire Club World Cup. However, in order for that to happen, the Premier League giants need to take a risk with both players and play them before the league campaign comes to an end.
Match fitness is essential for any footballer and Haaland cannot arrive at the FA Cup final with very few minutes under his belt.
Rodri’s situation is different as his injury was a lot more serious, but the Spaniard cannot be thrown into the Club World Cup having only taken part in training, although it remains to be seen how seriously Man City take the competition in its new format.
With both players being a crucial part of Man City’s team, it is scary to take this risk as a setback could rule them out of the start of the 2025/26 campaign.
However, it is one that needs to happen as Man City’s only focus now should be to win the FA Cup and Club World Cup, in addition to qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
