That was the honest admission from Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola as he reflected on Rodri’s long road back from injury. The City boss has acknowledged that both the club and the player pushed too hard to accelerate his recovery from a serious ACL tear last season. This decision ultimately delayed his full return to form.
A comeback that came too soon
Rodri suffered a major knee injury but made a surprisingly quick return during the same campaign, even featuring at the Club World Cup. However, setbacks soon followed.
A hamstring injury at the tournament derailed his momentum. When he returned in September, his schedule was demanding: He started three games in one week, sat out two matches, started twice in four days, was forced off early in the second game, then did not start again for nearly three months. Guardiola now believes the eagerness to reintegrate the Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder disrupted his natural recovery process.
“We came back too early. Our desire to get him back to him, especially since we came back too early, and that’s why it was longer. It’s a good lesson,” Guardiola admitted.
“The human being has a process”, Pep Guardiola
Guardiola emphasized that recovery timelines cannot be rushed, even for elite athletes.
While some players, such as Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden, may bounce back quicker, others need extended recovery time. “The human being has a time of recovery. When you are injured, there is a time you need. He needed proper time to recover.”
Eighteen months on from the original injury, Rodri is steadily rebuilding rhythm and confidence. Though Guardiola admits he is “still not at his best,” signs of progress are clear.
Gradual return to stability
Rodri came off the bench against Sunderland on New Year’s Day before starting against Chelsea three days later. Since then, he has been named in 11 of City’s last 12 matchday squads, missing only one game through suspension. He has started league fixtures against Manchester United, Tottenham, Liverpool and Fulham
His growing partnership with Bernardo Silva in midfield has helped restore balance, especially with defenders like Ruben Dias returning from injury. Manchester City, once wobbling under a wave of injuries, is now competing strongly across four competitions and re-entering the Premier League title conversation.
Experience could define the season
For Guardiola, the experience of Rodri and Silva may prove decisive in the coming months.
“Those two players have been here for nine years and know everything. When I see proper midfield players who know exactly what they have to do to dictate the tempo, it’s good. I have to tell them less.” Pep, Guardiola
With a crucial clash against Newcastle approaching, City will hope that managing Rodri’s workload carefully this time could be the key to success. The lesson, Guardiola says, is clear: talent can be irreplaceable, but time cannot be rushed.
What we know about Rodri’s injury
He suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear, which is one of the most serious knee injuries in football. The Anterior Cruciate Ligament is a strong band of tissue inside the knee which connects the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia) and helps in three main roles: To Keep the knee stable, to control or prevent twisting movements and to prevent the knee from “giving way”
And these footballers need this ligament and rely heavily on it when changing direction quickly, turning sharply, jumping and landing and tackling.
What happens when it tears?
An ACL tear means the ligament is either partially or completely torn. When this happens: The knee becomes unstable, the player feels sudden pain, Swelling develops quickly and continuing to play becomes almost impossible. Most professional players require surgery to repair it.
How long does the recovery process take?
Recovery is long and careful. It usually involves: Surgery, Months of physiotherapy, Strength rebuilding, Gradual return to training and careful monitoring of match minutes. Full recovery can take 6 to 12 months, sometimes even longer.
What if a player returns too soon, just like Rodri did? The knee may not be fully strong, other muscles (like the hamstring) may get injured, and Confidence and rhythm take time to return
That’s why Pep Guardiola later said, “the human being has a process”, meaning the body needs proper healing time.
Is it why Rodri had setbacks?
Yes, after coming back from the ACL injury, Rodri also suffered a hamstring injury, likely because: The body was still adjusting, match intensity was high and Recovery between games was short. So, this made his full return take longer than expected.
Rodri signed for Manchester City in the summer of 2019. He completed the move from Atlético Madrid on 4 July 2019, signing a five-year contract with Manchester City. City triggered his release clause worth around €70 million (about £62.5 million – £63 million), which at the time made him one of the club’s most expensive.
