Manchester City to Proceed Without Rodri for FA Cup Semi-Final Amid Injury Management

Apr 24, 2026, 15:32

Introduction

Manchester City midfielder Rodri will not play in the team's FA Cup semi-final against Southampton on Saturday, after he suffered a groin injury during a Premier League match against Arsenal. Manager Pep Guardiola confirmed that the player's condition has improved but emphasized that they will be careful about his return.

Main Body

Rodri sustained the injury during the second half of City's 2-1 victory over Arsenal on Sunday, which meant he missed the midweek league match against Burnley. Guardiola stated on Friday that the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner is 'better' but will not be available for the Wembley match. The manager explained that the club does not want to risk a longer absence, noting that returning too early could cause Rodri to miss up to five additional games. Guardiola described the midfielder as 'so important' to the team's chances. City currently lead the Premier League table after the win at Burnley, moving ahead of Arsenal on goal difference. The team also has upcoming league matches against Everton and Brentford. Guardiola acknowledged the physical and mental demands of the recent Arsenal game, noting that players were tired. He indicated that changing players and recovery plans would be very important in the final weeks of the season, as City chases both the league title and the FA Cup, having already won the League Cup. In addition to Rodri, defenders Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol remain unavailable due to ankle and leg injuries, respectively. Guardiola confirmed that the rest of the squad is fit. Regarding Southampton, he noted the Championship side's recent form—nine matches without a loss, including victories over Fulham and Arsenal—and stated that City would not underestimate their opponents. The manager also answered questions about his own future, giving a vague comment about living 'day by day,' though this remark was made in the context of questions about Rodri's possible departure.

Conclusion

Manchester City will face Southampton without Rodri, prioritizing his long-term fitness over short-term availability. The team's immediate focus is on advancing in the FA Cup while managing player workloads during a busy schedule.

Vocabulary Learning

departure (n.)
the act of leaving, especially from a job or team離開；離職
Example:Questions were raised about Rodri's possible departure from the club.
emphasize (v.)
stress or give special importance to something強調
Example:Guardiola emphasized the need to be careful about Rodri's return.
sustain (v.)
suffer or experience (an injury)遭受；承受
Example:Rodri sustained a groin injury during the match.
underestimate (v.)
to think that something is less important or weaker than it really is低估
Example:City would not underestimate Southampton despite their lower league status.
vague (adj.)
not clear or definite; ambiguous含糊的；模糊的
Example:The manager gave a vague answer about his future.

Sentence Learning

Rodri sustained the injury during the second half of City's 2-1 victory over Arsenal on Sunday, which meant he missed the midweek league match against Burnley.
Non-defining relative clause with 'which' to add extra information about the victory, linking the injury to the missed match.非限制性關係從句，使用'which'補充關於勝利的額外信息，將受傷與錯過的比賽聯繫起來。
Guardiola stated on Friday that the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner is 'better' but will not be available for the Wembley match.
Contrast using 'but' to show the difference between the player's improved condition and his unavailability for the match.使用'but'表示對比，顯示球員狀況好轉與無法上場之間的差異。
The manager explained that the club does not want to risk a longer absence, noting that returning too early could cause Rodri to miss up to five additional games.
Present participle 'noting' introduces an additional explanation, providing the reason behind the club's cautious approach.現在分詞'noting'引入附加解釋，說明球會採取謹慎態度的原因。
He indicated that changing players and recovery plans would be very important in the final weeks of the season, as City chases both the league title and the FA Cup, having already won the League Cup.
Linking word 'as' shows reason/cause, and the perfect participle 'having already won' provides background context about City's previous achievement.連接詞'as'表示原因，完成分詞'having already won'提供關於曼城先前成就的背景信息。
The manager also answered questions about his own future, giving a vague comment about living 'day by day,' though this remark was made in the context of questions about Rodri's possible departure.
Contrast with 'though' and passive voice 'was made' to highlight the indirect nature of the comment and its connection to Rodri's situation.使用'though'表示對比，被動語態'was made'強調評論的間接性及其與洛迪情況的關聯。