City’s Rodri Sets Early Return Target after Knee Surgery

Manchester City’s Rodri said yesterday that he is aiming to return from a serious knee injury before the end of the current campaign despite the Spanish midfielder being ruled out for the season in September.

Rodri, who won the Ballon d’Or last month, underwent surgery after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury during a 2-2 draw at Arsenal, with manager Pep Guardiola saying he would not play again this season.

“My target is to come back this season,” the 28-year-old told “The Rest is Football” podcast in an episode published on Thursday.

“I think in terms of my mentality it’s going to be positive for me to not give up the season and throw it.

“I don’t know when … my target is six, seven months, but the physios, they will dictate.”

City are second in the Premier League and will look to reduce the eight-point gap to Liverpool when they visit the leaders on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Liverpool manager, Arne Slot, believes Pep Guardiola will come up with the solution to Manchester City’s problems but is hoping to inflict more pain on the English champions on Sunday.

Slot’s incredible start to life at Anfield continued with a 2-0 win over Real Madrid on Wednesday to move back to the top of the Champions League table.

Liverpool are also streaking clear at the top of the Premier League, eight points ahead of City, who are suffering the worst run of form in Guardiola’s managerial career.

After five consecutive defeats, City collapsed from 3-0 up in the final 15 minutes to draw 3-3 against Feyenoord in midweek.

The loss of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri to a season-ending knee injury has been a colossal blow to City’s chances of defending their title.

Slot is confident Guardiola will turn their fortunes around but is hoping it will not come in time for the top-of-the-table clash.

“One of the reasons why I think Guardiola is the best manager in the world is that he always comes up with solutions for his problems,” Slot said at his pre-match press conference on Thursday.

“His problem now might be that Rodrigo is out, but we all know, I think, that he will come up with a solution and the run of form will go again. Hopefully after Sunday.”