In the third round of the EFL Cup on September 25th, Manchester City defeated Watford with a score of 2-1. After the match, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola attended the press conference and elaborated on the team's future game arrangements and players' injuries.
Regarding the upcoming EFL Cup matches, Guardiola made it clear: "In the upcoming EFL Cup matches, we will adopt a rotation strategy, giving more chances to those players who have played less time before or to the second team players. We will not over-exert our starting line-up in this competition, this is our established policy. Of course, the exact roster will be determined by the actual situation of the team and the injury status of the players. If the team suffers from a large number of injuries, we do not rule out the possibility of sending second team players to the field. But if the whole team stays healthy and in good shape, then this is a good opportunity for us to keep the rhythm and shape of the game through the match."
Talking about the injury of the team's midfielder Rodney, Guardiola appeared both cautious and optimistic. He said: "Regarding Rodri's injury, there are different opinions within the medical team at the moment. Some doctors think it's very serious, while others think it's not that bad. Therefore, we need to be patient and wait to see how the follow-up develops. The most important thing now is to give Rodney all-round support to ensure that he can recover safely. I emphasize safety, not speed. For the sake of his long-term development and career, we have to be patient and wait for his full recovery."
Guardiola replied negatively to the question of whether Rodriguez was "heartbroken" by the injury: "No, Rodriguez is very strong. Of course he will feel sad and disappointed because the injury interrupted his game rhythm and plan. But he is now facing it positively, waiting for the doctor's final decision and the subsequent treatment plan. Our whole team will be by his side, giving him the greatest support and encouragement. I believe we can still have a good season even in the face of such difficulties."
Finally, Guardiola also talked about how the team will cope with the possible absence of Rodri: "We will have a response. In soccer, injuries are inevitable. But we have a strong team and a set of perfect alternative program. When a key player is unavailable, we have to cope with that challenge as a unit. Last season, we won the Premier League title despite being without Harland for three months and De Bruyne for five months, which is a testament to the cohesion and fighting spirit of our team. I believe we are capable of overcoming and continuing to move forward no matter what difficulties we encounter."
