Pep Guardiola has admitted he is unsure whether Rodri will be fit enough to start for Manchester City against Arsenal on Sunday, with the midfielder facing the prospect of playing his third game in eight days as he continues his recovery from a serious knee injury.
Rodri asked to be substituted an hour into Thursday's 2-0 Champions League win over Napoli, after also coming off in the 76th minute of last Sunday's victory over Manchester United. The Spain international sustained anterior cruciate ligament damage in last September's 2-2 draw with Arsenal and only returned to action in May.
'He was so smart [asking to come off against Napoli],' Guardiola said. 'I know the result was not over, it was 1-0 then, always tricky, but he did not feel good. We always try to talk. We try to sustain his fitness and feel that is not uncomfortable and he is better.'
Rodri's first start since the injury came in City's Club World Cup win over Juventus this summer, but he subsequently hurt the same knee in the defeat to Al-Hilal on 1 July and had to come off after extra time. Guardiola said the club would decide on Sunday based on how Rodri feels.
City have two fewer days of rest than Arsenal ahead of the fixture, having played on Thursday while Arteta's side faced Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday. When asked how his players would prepare, Guardiola replied sarcastically: 'They're going to go hiking in the mountains. Friday recovery, rest, rest, rest, to conserve energy for Sunday.'
The City boss also dismissed suggestions that Arsenal's £250m summer spending spree would guarantee success, saying: 'Only I want to say to my friend Mikel Arteta – if he wins the title it will be just because he spent, not because he worked a lot on his players. For many, many years every club can do whatever he wants.'
