He trained well. He's going well, everyone is fine, here is what Pep Guardiola replied this Friday to the journalist who asked him news from Rodri. A player he was led to talk about later. Indeed, another journalist wanted to know if the Spanish coach thought he was able to replace the 2024 Golden Ball by a single player. “You say they (Monaco) marked against us because it was González who played and not Rodri?” How do you know? How can you prove it? “annoyed Guardiola, before saying more on the subject.
“Me neither (he cannot prove it, Editor's note),” let's change the subject. I know Rodri is irreplaceable in many ways. He could not play three days ago because of his knee, but during the half hour he played, González was the player who recovered the most balloons in transition. With Rodri, we conceded more transitions. We did not concede a goal because Rodri was not on the ground; If it was, I wouldn't have brought it out. But Rodri cannot play 90 minutes in many matches, and González was very, very good against Burnley and he progresses. Kovacic is not ready, and Rodri cannot play much. He made a huge effort the week we played against United, Naples and Arsenal, but I have to protect my players. Look at what happened to Carvajal at Real Madrid and other players who are constantly relapsed. ” Finally, he concluded: “I told Rodri that it is not a story of six or seven months. It is not: “I come back, I play and I become the Rodri from before”. No ! The real Rodri, we will see it at the 2026 World Cup with Spain, and as of next season, it will be at its best level. This season, the challenge is to manage things step by step. It's normal. For a year, he lived on the care table. The body changes, the rhythm changes, everything changes. He just needs time. And he will come back. “ The message has passed.
