Pep Guardiola affords hope in new Rodri damage replace as he insists Man Metropolis won’t use it as an excuse in title race with Arsenal – and divulges message he despatched Mikel Arteta after 2-2 draw

Pep Guardiola vowed that Manchester Metropolis won’t use Rodri’s long-term absence as an excuse of their newest Premier League title defence.

Rodri is in Barcelona ready for a second opinion on the knee damage sustained throughout Sunday’s draw in opposition to Arsenal however Metropolis worry he may miss the season.

Guardiola admitted that the 28-year-old shall be lacking for an prolonged interval however that he’ll discover methods of softening the blow.

‘Nonetheless we do not have the definitive, however he shall be out for a very long time, some time, however perhaps it will likely be lower than we anticipated,’ Guardiola stated.

‘I can not let you know as a result of we’re ready on the telephone calls from him and the medical doctors to know precisely what he has and the kind of surgical procedure he has to get. I believe tonight, tomorrow we are going to know.

Pep Guardiola has confirmed that the Spanish midfielder won’t function ‘for a very long time’

Mateo Kovacic (proper) may show to be the answer that Guardiola stated he might want to discover

‘We do not need it, however we are going to nonetheless have season. I belief loads in my gamers. I’ve an obligation to discover a answer.

‘Rodri is irreplaceable and the crew will not play with the very best midfielder on this planet for an extended, very long time. After all it is a huge, huge blow for us.

‘It is soccer, it is occurred, and my obligation is to discover a answer, to be aggressive like now we have been for a few years.

‘Rodri isn’t right here, it is an issue. However complain? I really feel sorry for him. Get better finest as attainable, we anticipate you, and go for it. That is the problem. Go to Newcastle, attempt to win, do what now we have executed for a few years. Easy as that.’

Guardiola additionally revealed that he messaged Mikel Arteta amid the fallout of Metropolis’s draw with the Gunners – and claimed his former assistant’s tactical set-up was nothing new.

Tempers boiled over following Metropolis’s late equaliser in opposition to the Gunners on Sunday afternoon

Guardiola revealed that he instructed Mikel Arteta that ‘they did wonderful’ regardless of criticism from the Metropolis gamers towards Arsenal’s techniques

‘It is nice, they had been sensible,’ the Metropolis boss added. ‘I like what they’ve executed, I can not try this with my crew.

‘I stated to Mikel, they did wonderful, not an issue. They know their gamers and do what they need to do.

‘The opponents can play how they wish to. As much as us to deal with them. We play numerous groups defensively. Are you aware what number of occasions groups play like that? Thousands and thousands. It is about us.’