Rodri shares his optimistic ‘target’ for making Man City return following crushing injury blow

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Manchester City have been very unlucky with injuries this season.

Various figures in City’s squad have been handed injury and fitness issues throughout the campaign.

Perhaps the biggest blow City has dealt came in September when Rodri suffered a season-ending knee injury during the Manchester club’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.

Following that, on a more positive note, Rodri won the 2024 Ballon d’Or after playing a key role in City’s fourth consecutive Premier League title win and Spain’s victory in the European Championship over the summer.

With the midfielder still out of action, he has now shared the current thoughts on when he’s aiming to make his long-awaited return to the pitch.

• READ MORE: Who is Rodri? Get to know Man City’s modest midfield maestro who won a Champions League final

Rodri shares his target for Man City return

Appearing as a guest in a recent episode of The Rest Is Football, Rodri said this when asked about how he’s currently feeling and where he is in terms of his recovery process.

“I’m fine. I’m doing much better than I thought, to be honest. I think in terms of the mental, I think my body wanted to stop, of course not in that way, but I’m kind of enjoying the rest, if it’s possible to say it that way.”

The midfielder was then asked if he knew at the time when he suffered his injury that it would be as serious as it turned out to be.

Rodri added: “No, not to be honest. No, because, well, you never know the feeling, first of all. But my feeling was like, I have like, I didn’t feel like a crack.

“I feel like something came in and out and the knee was very stable after. So I was confident, but it was, I take it in the sense that the recovery always, you know, positive mentality to go straight and that’s it.”

Rodri then opened up about how he’s dealt with the positive and negative moments he’s been through recently as a result of his injury.

“Yeah, the ups and downs. The first month and a half has been quite bad, to be honest, in terms of pain and I cannot work. And it’s been tough, but now it seems to be more easier.”

Finally, the City star was then asked what his target was for making his return back to action on the pitch, saying this on the matter.

“My target is to come back this season. I think in terms of my mentality is going to be positive for me. To don’t give up the season and throw it.

“When I’m able, I don’t want to run, I don’t want to make mistakes. But yeah, that’s my mentality. I don’t know when. My target is six or seven months.”

City have struggled without Rodri recently

Even though Rodri has been out injured since September, the previous few weeks have shown just how much City have missed their defensive-midfield star.

Specifically, out of their six previous matches across all competitions, Pep Guardiola’s side have lost five and drawn one, conceding 17 goals in the process.

Prior to City’s recent 4-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, Guardiola shared details on Rodri’s recovery, saying that his rehabilitation has gone well so far and that he’ll be back at the club to continue the rest of his journey back to full fitness in January.

Moving forward, while everyone at the club will want to see the Spaniard get back on the pitch as soon as possible, the severity of his injury means that City will have to be extra careful in terms of not rushing him back too early and not overloading him in the early stages of his return.