Haaland has been sidelined since picking up an ankle injury on March 30th, forcing him to miss crucial Premier League and FA Cup fixtures. Providing an update on the Norwegian forward's recovery, Guardiola stated on Friday, "He’s getting better, step by step. Still didn’t train with the team but we’ll see in the next days how it will evolve." While Haaland's return to individual training is a positive sign, his reintegration into full team training and match fitness will be carefully managed.
Rodri's absence has been more protracted, with the Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder out of action since suffering an ACL injury on September 22nd. In more encouraging news, Guardiola revealed that Rodri has rejoined the main squad for training and is progressing well in his rehabilitation. "Rodri is training with the team and doing really well," Guardiola confirmed, emphasizing that the club's medical staff will play a crucial role in determining the timing of his competitive comeback.
Guardiola humorously alluded to Rodri's eagerness to return, saying, "I don’t know what Rodri wants, but the doctors are going to tell me, ‘Pep, you have the green light to give him some minutes’ or so on. I’ll rely on the doctors in that case." This cautious approach underscores City's commitment to ensuring both players are fully fit and not rushed back prematurely, especially with important fixtures on the horizon.
Despite the absence of Haaland and Rodri, Manchester City will travel to Wembley Stadium on Sunday to face Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup semifinals. Their consistent performance in the competition has seen them reach this stage for a remarkable seventh consecutive season. The team has their sights set on a third successive appearance in the FA Cup final, having experienced both victory and defeat against local rivals Manchester United in the title decider over the past two years.
Looking beyond the FA Cup, Manchester City has four remaining Premier League games as they aim to solidify their Champions League qualification for next season. Following their domestic commitments, the club will also be preparing for the prestigious Club World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in the United States during June and July. The impending returns of Haaland and Rodri will undoubtedly provide a significant boost to City's ambitions on both domestic and international fronts as the season draws to a close.