Guardiola confirms Rodri and Haaland back in Man City training

Manchester City’s Rodri and Erling Haaland have returned to full training ahead of their Premier League clash with Wolves on Friday, Pep Guardiola confirmed.

Rodri, who won the 2024 Ballon d’Or, has been missing for the Citizens since picking up an anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL) injury against Arsenal in September.

The Spain international’s absence has been cited as a major reason for City’s downturn in form that has seen them miss out on a record-extending fifth Premier League title.

Indeed, Guardiola’s team have lost 16 games in the top-flight when Rodri has been unavailable, with nine of those losses coming in 2024-25.

Haaland has also returned to training following an ankle injury sustained in City’s FA Cup quarter-final victory away to Bournemouth back in March.

The 24-year-old has 30 goals in 40 appearances in all competitions this season.

Guardiola added that Haaland was unlikely to feature against Wolves, while he was unsure whether Rodri would play for the club this season.

“We are really pleased Erling is back, that Rodri is back in the training sessions,” Guardiola told reporters on Thursday.

“The moment the physio and doctor say that Rodri can start to play minutes, he will start to play minutes. But the doctors have to tell me.

“It was a difficult injury. It was seven months to eleven months, more or less, the doctors said.

“He feels really good. Every day he’s making sessions and sessions, but we have to make the step to avoid making a step backwards and being injured again.”

PEP We are really pleased Erling [Haaland] and Rodri are back in the training sessions. The moment the physio and doctor say they can start to play minutes, they will start to play. The doctors have to tell me. [They’re] difficult injuries – seven to 11 months out. The doctors… pic.twitter.com/sdI3GZkTas

— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 1, 2025

Rodri and Haaland’s potential return before the end of the season will be a major boost to City, who are hoping to finish the campaign in the Champions League places.

Guardiola’s team are fourth in the Premier League table with four games remaining, with a top-five finish assuring them of competing in Europe’s elite competition next term.

They welcome in-form Wolves to the Etihad Stadium on Friday, with Vitor Pereira’s side enjoying a six-game winning run, the joint-longest streak of any side this season.

Though City have won eight of their last nine Premier League home games against Wolves, Guardiola is expecting a tough test for his players.

“I’m not surprised [by Wolves’ form],” Guardiola said. “In the last few years, I think they have always had really good players, and now they’ve had an incredible run.

“It’s quite similar to when Newcastle came a month ago and Aston Villa came. It’s another final for us. We have four finals, and now we go for the first one.”