Pep Guardiola has welcomed Rodri back to full fitness and declared himself 'prouder than ever' of Manchester City's efforts in 2025, despite a rare trophyless season. The midfielder is available for selection after a hamstring injury, having missed most of the year due to a cruciate ligament injury sustained in September 2024.
Speaking ahead of City's New Year's Day trip to Sunderland, Guardiola highlighted the team's impressive turnaround. City enter 2025 with the best points-per-game ratio in the Premier League, narrowly ahead of Arsenal, who have played two more matches. 'At the end of last season, what we have done, overcome the problems that we had, one of the best seasons we have had as a team,' he said.
City's form dipped sharply after Rodri's injury, but a £172m spending spree in last January's window helped steady the ship. Guardiola admitted that without those signings, City might have been playing in the Conference League. 'The guys who were there all season, the staff and backroom staff was arguably one of the best that we had,' he added.
Guardiola warned that City will be even stronger with Rodri back. 'Come on, with Rodri we are a stronger team. There's no doubt about that.' The club is expected to have a quieter winter window, but a deal for Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo is close to completion. The winger, who impressed in the 2-2 draw at Chelsea, is keen on a move, and Guardiola acknowledged the threat of his long throws, an asset City currently lack.
