Pep Guardiola could drop Rodri from the Manchester City starting eleven ahead of their EFL Cup clash with Liverpool, said Frank McAvennie to Football Insider days ago.
He believes the 26-year-old might need to clear his head after Spain’s emotional exit from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, saying: “Pep will be on the phone telling him to get his head sorted before he gets back.” But the likelihood is that Rodri will get the nod if he’s physically able to feature.
McAvennie is right to criticise the Spaniard’s comments upon his national team’s elimination from the tournament, but a return to domestic duties will automatically put him in a different headspace. He was left out of their 2-0 win over Girona but should face Liverpool.
The 26-year-old has been a model professional since making the switch from Atletico Madrid in 2019, so his comments should be treated as spur of the moment.
Rodri has made 171 appearances in all competitions for City, scoring 13 goals with 12 assists. He’s one of the first names on the teammate, so Guardiola wouldn’t drop him without a good reason.
There will be a lot of players having their minutes managed after a gruelling World Cup campaign, but Rodri’s head shouldn’t be a factor. It’s not uncommon for a player to be critical of an opponent they’ve lost to, so McAvnenie might be reaching.
In other news, Julian Alvarez chasing unlikely Golden Boot after reaching World Cup final
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