Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been included in the Champions League squad for the knockout phase of the tournament.
Considering it was widely assumed that the Spanish international would not play again this season, the decision has caught some off guard.
Supporters on X are now hoping that Rodri can make his comeback from injury earlier than anticipated:
Don’t give me hope 🫣
— Touristically Travel✈️ (@Touristically_) February 7, 2025
Rodri back in the UCL squad? City's midfield just went from strong to unstoppable.
— Mashtar (@Engineerr_17) February 7, 2025
Good fortune coming our way 🥲🩵
— Stephen Walker (@realzehor) February 7, 2025
❤️❤️
— Micky Olaolu (@TrustinGod2906) February 7, 2025
we’re so back
— Lucas Vorstenbosch 🍋🟩 (@xlucosaurrr) February 7, 2025
Turning up again for us in the final
— Bond KGeN (@Bond001__) February 7, 2025
Guardiola has played down the prospect of an early return
Speaking at the end of last month about Rodri’s progress, manager Pep Guardiola was cautious when it was suggested to him that the midfielder could be back in contention sooner than expected:
“The ACL is the ACL for every football player and every athlete so there is a time. The first month he was in Madrid all the time for the surgery there and then with the doctors and the physios.”
“Now it’s lovely to have him here in the locker room. His voice and his presence of course it is important. When he wants to travel to special places, I said to all the injured players of course you can come and it’s nice to have him. Of course, it’s good. [The] Most important [thing] for Rodri now is to recover well.”
The City star was aiming to be back for June
Speaking shortly after sustaining the injury against Arsenal, Rodri expressed his hope that he would return for the Club World Cup this summer.
That would suggest that any participation in the latter stages of the Champions League is unlikely but his injury may be healing a lot quicker than even he thought possible.
Read our exclusive interview with Shaun Wright-Phillips. He talks about why City should still make the top 4 this season.
