MANCHESTER: Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said his Ballon d’Or winner Rodri is a doubt for Sunday’s trip to Arsenal due to fitness concerns in what is sure to be a blockbuster clash.
City will arrive in North London on a wave of momentum after back-to-back wins over Manchester United and Napoli, but Rodri came off after an hour against the Serie A leaders in Thursday’s Champions League match, raising concerns about his fitness.
Guardiola said the Spain midfielder will be assessed ahead of Sunday’s game when asked if he would play.
“I don’t know yet, but he was so smart (to request a substitution against Napoli on Thursday). We’ll see, day-by-day,” Guardiola added.
“The training (on Wednesday), he didn’t feel comfortable, but said, ‘No, no, I will be fine, and he played extraordinarily. But, of course, he comes from a tough, tough injury, he has to be alert and we will decide on Sunday how he feels.”
The 29-year-old Spaniard spent most of last season sidelined after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament, and then suffered a groin injury at the Club World Cup.
While City and Arsenal are touted as potential title contenders, Guardiola cautioned that it was too early in the campaign for Sunday’s fixture to give any pointers.
“Listen, it’s the fifth game of the season, come on,” he said. “(Former Manchester United manager) Alex Ferguson said in the Premier League, you have to, after Boxing Day, stay close to the top four,” he added. “After that, you can think about it.
“In the six Premier Leagues (titles Guardiola has won at City), I think four or five, we were in December, January, behind Liverpool and behind Arsenal and at the end we won it.”
While City appear to be rediscovering their rhythm after they were rattled by early defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton, Guardiola said Arsenal will be a huge challenge on Sunday.
“Mikel (Arteta) is an extraordinary manager and they increased the squad for these (last) four, five transfer windows,” he said. “So it’s an unbelievable squad. It is one of the toughest opponents you can find right now in Europe.”
The Spaniard said his main concern was improving on last season’s third-place finish.
“To see the team growing up, that is only my concern right now, to see the team make a step forward every day,” he said. “We’re not going to win the Premier League on Sunday. We’re not going to lose the Premier League on Sunday.”
Rodri a question mark for City’s Premier League clash with Arsenal
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Rodri a question mark for City’s Premier League clash with Arsenal
- City will arrive in North London on a wave of momentum after back-to-back wins over Manchester United and Napoli
- Guardiola said the Spain midfielder will be assessed ahead of Sunday’s game when asked if he would play
Leeds survive Birmingham scare to reach FA Cup fifth round
- Wolves also avoided an upset as they won 1-0 at fourth-division Grimsby
LONDON: Leeds survived an FA Cup scare to reach the fifth round with a penalty shoot-out victory against second-tier Birmingham on Sunday.
Birmingham substitute Patrick Roberts snatched an 89th-minute equalizer at St. Andrew’s to cancel out Lukas Nmecha’s 49th-minute opener for Leeds.
With a feisty fourth round tie level at 1-1 after extra-time, Leeds won the shoot-out 4-2.
Joel Piroe, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Brenden Aaronson and Sean Longstaff all converted their penalties for Daniel Farke’s team.
Tommy Doyle’s effort was saved by Leeds goalkeeper Lucas Perri before Roberts fired over the crossbar.
Battling to avoid relegation from the Premier League, Leeds are one win away from reaching the quarterfinals for the first time since 2003.
Wolves also avoided an upset as they won 1-0 at fourth-division Grimsby.
Grimsby stunned Manchester United in the League Cup earlier this season.
But Wolves avoided similar embarrassment thanks to Santiago Bueno’s 60th-minute goal from the visitors’ first shot on target on a mud-caked pitch at Blundell Park.
Grimsby did not manage to force Wolves ‘keeper Sam Johnstone into a save until Andy Cook’s header in the 90th minute.
It was Wolves’ first away win since beating Manchester United in April.
Mired in a miserable season that has left them bottom of the Premier League and almost certain to be relegated, Rob Edwards’ side can still salvage some pride in the FA Cup.
Fulham came from behind to win 2-1 at second tier Stoke.
Cottagers boss Marco Silva made 10 changes from their midweek defeat at Manchester City and nearly paid for the gamble.
South Korean midfielder Bae Jun-ho capped a fine move to put Stoke ahead after 19 minutes.
But Brazilian winger Kevin got his reward for an impressive performance in the 55th minute, sending a first-time shot into the bottom corner.
Harrison Reed completed Fulham’s escape act in the 84th minute, intercepting a poor pass from Stoke keeper Tommy Simkin and slotting home.
Sunderland reached the fifth round for the first time since 2015 as Habib Diarra’s controversial penalty clinched a 1-0 win at second tier Oxford.
Regis Le Bris’ side went in front after 32 minutes when Dennis Cirkin tumbled under Christ Makosso’s challenge.
Referee Thomas Kirk pointed to the spot despite Oxford’s protests and Diarra rubbed salt into their wounds as he calmly converted the penalty.
