LONDON: Rodri will not be risked in Manchester City’s FA Cup semi-final against Southampton on Saturday even though he is recovering from a groin injury, manager Pep Guardiola said on Friday.
The Spanish midfielder came off late in last weekend’s crucial 2-1 win over Arsenal and he missed the midweek victory over Burnley, which took City top of the Premier League.
With the club chasing a seventh Premier League title in nine seasons, Guardiola is unwilling to take a chance on the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner at Wembley.
The groin issue is the latest in a series of setbacks for the 29-year-old Rodri since he suffered a serious knee injury early last season and the focus is on proving his fitness for the league trip to Everton on May 4.
Guardiola said the midfielder was “better” but was unsure if he would face Everton.
“Hopefully, but we don’t want to take a risk because if he’s injured, we’re losing him for the next three games, that’s why it’s so important,” he said.
The Blues will face a resurgent Southampton who are unbeaten since January and are pushing for a return to the Premier League.
Guardiola said that his players would not underestimate the Championship side as City attempt to reach a fourth straight final.
“They have knocked out Fulham and Arsenal so (their form) speaks for itself,” he said. “They are in a good rhythm but this is a real opportunity to get to the final.”
In the other last-four tie, Chelsea will face Leeds United on Sunday four days after the Blues sacked their coach Liam Rosenoir amid a five-match losing streak in the Premier League.
Rosenoir was replaced by interim coach Calum McFarlane, who said the team was not dwelling on the firing of previous manager and instead focusing on beating Leeds this weekend.
“We haven’t had a clear-the-air meeting, we have got the group focused for Sunday,” McFarlane, who was a part of Rosenior’s backroom staff, told reporters on Friday.
“It’s important we have a real focus for the game on Sunday. We can’t be thinking about anything else, what’s gone on in the past doesn’t need to be spoken about. It’s just everything geared towards Sunday.”
McFarlane said he spoke to Rosenior on the day he was fired.
“He was good, it was a good conversation. I have a lot of respect for Liam, I didn’t know him before he came to the club, he welcomed me in brilliantly. I have a great relationship with him and I am gutted it didn’t work out,” he added.
Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026
