Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has provided a measured but hopeful update on the fitness status of two vital players, Phil Foden and Rodri, as the 2025–26 Premier League season approaches.
The Spanish coach emphasized caution, underlining his determination to ensure both return without risking recurring injury—a message that reflects City’s careful approach to the start of a campaign marked by ambition and recovery.
Phil Foden, following a season disrupted by illness and intermittent fitness issues, remains a key creative outlet for City’s forward line. Guardiola revealed that although Foden “was doing really good,” a precautionary decision was made after the winger sustained a “knock on his ankle.”
As a result, Foden was left behind when City traveled to Sicily for their preseason friendly against Palermo. The coach expressed guarded optimism regarding Foden’s availability for the Premier League opener against Wolverhampton Wanderers on August 16, stating simply, “Phil, hopefully, it depends on the problem but it’s a long week so hopefully.”
The more concerning situation surrounds Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, whose return from a major anterior cruciate ligament injury has suffered a fresh setback. The midfielder re-emerged in the final stretch of last season, making substitute appearances in the Premier League and the Club World Cup.
However, he endured a new injury during the Club World Cup round-of-16 defeat to Saudi club Al-Hilal, which Guardiola described as a “big injury.” The coach indicated that although Rodri “is getting better” and has participated in training sessions over the past few days, full fitness is still some way off. “Hopefully after the international break is when he will be really, really fit,” Guardiola stated, emphasizing that avoiding pain is paramount to prevent a repeat setback.
Reports indicate that Rodri “is not expected to feature prominently in the opening matches of the new Premier League season” due to his injury complications, with some specifying a groin issue incurred during the Club World Cup.
Other sources similarly convey that he “won’t be fully fit until after September’s international break.” The sentiment is echoed widely: “Rodri is unlikely to be really fit until after the September international break,” a timeline Guardiola appears to adhere to in scheduling his reintroduction.
Further detail suggests that Guardiola does not expect Rodri to complete 90 minutes in early-season fixtures. Instead, the plan is for him to return gradually, most likely through substitute appearances in the opening games against Wolves, Tottenham, and Brighton.
His first anticipated start could come in the Manchester derby on September 14—assuming his recovery stays on track.
Meanwhile, Rodri himself has acknowledged he will need several months to regain his top form following the eight-month absence due to surgery, describing it as a slow and emotionally challenging process.
Guardiola’s cautious stance emerges in the broader context of a City side eager to reclaim domestic and European supremacy after a rare trophyless 2024–25 season. Without Rodri’s midfield anchor, the team struggled across domestic and continental competitions—a reality underscored across season reviews and previews alike.
In response, the club has invested heavily—reportedly more than £300 million—to bolster the squad, acquiring talents such as Tijjani Reijnders and Rayans Cherki to support both Foden and Rodri in shaping the team’s creative impetus.
Guardiola’s strategy is evidently to balance caution with readiness. Foden’s issue, while minor, warrants rest rather than pressure; Rodri’s return must be calibrated to preserve his long-term impact.