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 retired with a semipermanent injury.

And speaking aft City progressed to the 4th circular of the Carabao Cup with a 2-1 triumph implicit Watford, Guardiola revealed his thoughts connected however helium volition regenerate the Spaniard.

"When you are without the champion midfielder successful the satellite for a agelong clip it is simply a large blow," helium said.

"But my work is to find a solution.

"When a subordinate is irreplaceable, we person to bash it arsenic a team."

He besides added: "Still, we don't person the definitive. He'll beryllium retired for a agelong time, a while, but determination is immoderate opinions that possibly it volition beryllium little than we expect.

"Unfortunately helium was injured. Right now, still, I cannot archer you (how long) due to the fact that we're waiting the past telephone calls from him and the doctors to cognize precisely what, definitely, helium has and the benignant of country that helium has to get."

Matheus Nunes pressed his lawsuit for inclusion aft scoring his archetypal City extremity successful the 2-1 triumph implicit Watford connected Tuesday.

Ilkay Gundogan’s value to the broadside volition lone summation successful Rodri’s lack aft his instrumentality from Barcelona past month.

Mateo Kovacic tin expect to spot much crippled clip arsenic a effect too, portion youngsters James McAtee and Nico O’Reilly mightiness spot accrued action.

The 1 redeeming grace for City is that they person got utilized to playing - and winning - without Rodri this season.

The 28-year-old lone started his archetypal Premier League crippled of the run against Arsenal arsenic helium was eased backmost into enactment aft winning Euro 2024 with Spain.