Manchester City will take on Real Madrid this weekend and while Rodri is going to be available, there are question marks over the availability of Nathan Ake.
Rodri was forced with an injury during the Everton game and it looked like the midfielder had picked up a knee injury. He was replaced with Kalvin Phillips in the 88th minute and immediately there were doubts over his possibility to play vs Madrid.
Thankfully, the substitution was just a precaution and Pep Guardiola has made it clear that Rodri is going to be ready.
“He will be okay on Wednesday,” the manager said after the game(h/t Standard).
Rodri and John Stones have been rock solid in central defence and the pair will be key to stopping Modric and Valverde from controlling the pace and rhythm of the game.
Rodri’s availability is great news but on the other hand, the Manchester City manager will still be without Nathan Ake.
Last week, Pep had updated that the defender is making a speedy recovery but he was not in the matchday squad at the weekend.
He could be fit enough to be in the squad on Wednesday but there’s a very slim chance that he is going to start. Manuel Akanji is more than capable of playing as the left-sided central defender which is why Guardiola will be happy to rely on him rather than start a less than 100% fit Nathan Ake.
Ake has been exceptional during the second half of the season and ever since Joao Cancelo has been shown the door, Nathan Ake is the primary reason why Pep Guardiola has had the courage to play a 3-2-4-1 formation.
His absence will definitely be a big blow in midweek but the Man City manager will be happier that Rodri is not injured because the midfielder’s backup is Kalvin Phillips and the ex-Leeds man has hardly played this season.
