Rodri starts for Manchester City against Chelsea today, with Jeremy Doku on the bench.
Doku made his comeback from a calf injury as a substitute in the 0-0 draw with Sunderland on New Year’s Day, while Rodri returned off the bench at the Stadium of Light after two months out.
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Pep Guardiola has said that he “has to be careful” with Rodri and Doku, but their return to fitness is a major boost for City in their bid to chase down Arsenal in the Premier League title race.
Guardiola hailed Rodri’s cameo at Sunderland after he replaced the injured Nico Gonzalez at half-time, saying: “He changed the game. He proved in 45 minutes that he is the best in his position. Hopefully he can stay fit because he makes us a better team."
Guardiola has now decided that Rodri is ready to start against Chelsea.
Speaking ahead of the game, Guardiola said: “In this period to have two games away is so demanding.
“You know, Christmas times always happen and it has been a tough two games at Nottingham Forest and [at Sunderland], so yeah, we have to see.
“[There’s] not much time. We’ll see what happened. Rodri is back and Jeremy - both have come from long, long injuries. So we have to be careful.
“[I will] talk with the doctors, with the physios and we will see.”
Doku is on the bench again for the Chelsea game, with Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki continuing alongside Erling Haaland in attack.
Nico O'Reilly was taken off against Sunderland, though is fit to take his usual place at left-back for City as Josko Gvardiol replaces Nathan Ake.
Savinho has joined Mateo Kovacic, Oscar Bobb and John Stones out injured, while Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri are still away at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Savinho and Gonzalez are replaced by Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders.
Man City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly, Rodri, Bernardo, Reijnders, Foden, Cherki, Haaland
Subs: Trafford, Ake, Doku, Khusanov, McAidoo, Mukasa, Lewis, Mfuni, R Heskey
Injured: Kovacic, Stones, Bobb, Savinho, Gonzalez
Unavailable: Ait-Nouri, Marmoush (AFCON)
Time and date: 5.30pm GMT on Sunday, January 4, 2026
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
How to watch: Sky Sports
