Rodri Out of Burnley Clash as Man City Sweat on Star Midfielder's Fitness

May 02, 2026

Rodri playing for Manchester City — Rodri in action for Manchester City — Photo: pantkiewicz / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0

Manchester City are sweating on the fitness of their best midfielder ahead of the run-in, with Pep Guardiola confirming that Rodri will not travel to Burnley due to a groin problem picked up in recent action. It is exactly the kind of news City do not need at a moment when every point in the title race matters.

How bad is the injury?

Guardiola moved quickly to calm fears after the injury first emerged, saying he expected Rodri to miss Burnley but hoped the Spaniard would be back in time for City's FA Cup semi-final against Southampton or their subsequent fixture against Everton. Scans reportedly confirmed the injury is not serious, which is the one piece of good news for the champions. But "not serious" and "will definitely be fine for the next three weeks" are different things, and Guardiola was careful not to give any guarantees about his return date.

Rodri is the kind of player whose absence creates problems you cannot paper over with tactical adjustments. He covers ground, he slows attacks, he sets the rhythm of how City build from deep. Without him, City can still function — they proved that last season when he was out for stretches — but the margin for error narrows considerably, and they are already in a title race where they cannot afford loose ends.

The title race context

Manchester City are chasing Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, and they have been doing it with the kind of consistency that makes the Gunners genuinely nervous. Arsenal are aiming to win their first league title in over two decades, and every time it looks like they might pull clear, City find a way to stay within touching distance. The Burnley game should be winnable with or without Rodri — City's squad depth is still formidable — but the bigger concern is whether he will be fully sharp for the matches against teams in the top half later in the month.

Guardiola also has Ruben Dias and Mateo Kovacic among his concerns going into the Burnley fixture, meaning this is not a one-player injury update but a broader fitness headache at the worst possible time. These are the matches where you have to pick up points and keep the pressure on the team above you. Dropping points at Burnley, of all places, would be a gift to Arsenal that Guardiola can ill afford to hand over.

Can City handle Rodri's absence?

The squad has options. Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden can take on larger creative responsibilities when Rodri is out, and Guardiola has managed these situations before. But there is a reason Rodri has won the Ballon d'Or and spent years at the very top of every midfielder ranking in Europe. He is not easy to replace. Short-term, City should get through Burnley. Longer-term, they need him back and fit for the decisive weeks of the season. Right now, that is not guaranteed.