Pep Guardiola Eyes Real Madrid Clash as New Signings Bolster Midfield Depth
Manchester City have made a bold statement of faith in Rodri’s recovery by including the injured Ballon d’Or winner in their updated Champions League squad for the knockout stages. Despite fears that the Spanish midfielder’s season could be over after he suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during a match against Arsenal on September 22, Rodri has set an ambitious target to return to action by April—just in time for the Champions League quarterfinals, which begin on April 8.
UEFA’s deadline for squad submissions passed at midnight on Thursday, with clubs allowed to register up to three new signings from the midseason transfer window. City opted to leave out 19-year-old defender Vitor Reis, who joined from Palmeiras last month, but included new arrivals Nico Gonzalez, Omar Marmoush, and Abdukodir Khusanov. Gonzalez, a 23-year-old midfielder, is seen as a crucial addition to fill the void left by Rodri’s absence.
City manager Pep Guardiola spoke to reporters on Friday ahead of his team’s FA Cup clash against Leyton Orient, emphasizing the importance of balancing immediate challenges with the looming showdown against Real Madrid in the Champions League. “After the game [at Orient], we will come back early to Manchester and start to talk about Real Madrid,” Guardiola said. “Of course, I have an eye on Madrid, but Leyton Orient deserve my attention. Otherwise, we would not have reached so many FA Cup semi-finals and finals in the last five or six years.”
Rodri’s absence has been a significant blow for City, with the midfielder having scored the winning goal in last year’s Champions League final against Inter Milan. His leadership and composure in the middle of the park have been instrumental to City’s success, and his return could provide a timely boost as the club aims to defend its European crown.
In the meantime, Guardiola is leaning on new signing Nico Gonzalez to step up. The young midfielder, who joined from Barcelona on transfer deadline day, has already earned the manager’s trust. “It’s a position where we were weak after Rodri’s absence,” Guardiola explained. “I know Nico from the Barcelona academy, and his father worked here. I’m really pleased with the club’s effort to bring him in for the next few years.”
City’s Champions League journey continues with a high-stakes two-legged playoff against Real Madrid, set for next Tuesday and February 19. The winner will advance to face either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16.
As Rodri works tirelessly to regain fitness, City’s decision to include him in their squad reflects their belief in his ability to make a dramatic return. For now, Guardiola and his team must navigate a packed schedule, balancing domestic and European ambitions while keeping one eye on their star midfielder’s recovery.
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