Pep Guardiola makes Rodri vow as Man City manager confirms surgery with no return date set

Pep Guardiola has insisted it is his ‘duty’ to find a replacement for Rodri with the midfielder ruled out with a long-term injury.

The midfielder could be missing for the rest of the season after suffering a serious knee injury during Manchester City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sunday.

And speaking after City progressed to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a 2-1 win over Watford, Guardiola revealed his thoughts on how he will replace the Spaniard.

"When you are without the best midfielder in the world for a long time it is a big blow," he said.

"But my duty is to find a solution.

"When a player is irreplaceable, we have to do it as a team."

He also added: "Still, we don't have the definitive. He'll be out for a long time, a while, but there is some opinions that maybe it will be less than we expect.

"Unfortunately he was injured. Right now, still, I cannot tell you (how long) because we're waiting the last phone calls from him and the doctors to know exactly what, definitely, he has and the type of surgery that he has to get."

Matheus Nunes pressed his case for inclusion after scoring his first City goal in the 2-1 win over Watford on Tuesday.

Ilkay Gundogan’s importance to the side will only increase in Rodri’s absence after his return from Barcelona last month.

Mateo Kovacic can expect to see more game time as a result too, while youngsters James McAtee and Nico O’Reilly might see increased action.

The one saving grace for City is that they have got used to playing - and winning - without Rodri this season.

The 28-year-old only started his first Premier League game of the campaign against Arsenal as he was eased back into action after winning Euro 2024 with Spain.