Manchester City will be without Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri for this weekend’s trip to face Newcastle United in the Premier League.
The Premier League champions look to continue their strong start to the campaign at St James’ Park but will be without two of their most influential names in the North East.
Rodri has been ruled out for the rest of the 2024/25 campaign after sustaining an ACL injury during the 2-2 draw with Arsenal last weekend. The Spaniard has undergone surgery on Friday morning and Guardiola has confirmed that Rodri will not return to action before the season’s end.
“Surgery this morning, ACL and next season he will be here,” Guardiola said at his pre-match press conference.
“This season is over. Unfortunately we got the worst but these things happen. We will be there to support him in his recovery step-by-step.
“What he gives us, we don’t have a similar player. But the others can all together replace what Rodri has given since his arrival to us. We will have to do it as a team and find a way to play a lot of matches without an important player for us.
“If we don’t win then it is because of Rodri. We are stronger with him and stronger with Ake and Bobb and Kevin but that is what it is. We don’t want it but it is football.
“As a club we have magnificent players and we will find a solution.”
De Bruyne ruled out until after international break
Guardiola also said that De Bruyne will be unavailable for the trip to Newcastle and may not return from injury until after the international break.
A groin injury ruled the Belgium international out of the midweek win over Watford and De Bruyne could be sidelined until City return from the international break at Wolves on October 20.
