Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has provided an update on midfielder Rodri’s recovery, admitting there is still no clear date for his return to full action. The Spaniard, who has been out with a muscular problem, has been sorely missed by City this season, especially in the middle of the park where his control and composure are unmatched.
Softfootball earlier reported that Rodri has returned to first-team training, but Guardiola remains cautious about rushing him back. The City boss emphasized that the club wants to avoid any setbacks, given the midfielder has already suffered similar issues twice this year.
Rodri of Manchester City (Photo credit: City via X)
According to Fabrizio Romano via his official X handle, Guardiola explained Rodri’s situation while speaking to the media, offering a glimpse of optimism but also a note of patience. Romano posted;
Guardiola: There’s no timeframe for Rodri’s return yet. He’s not ready yet. For sure he’s getting better, training with us partially. But after what happened two times, prior incidents in muscular, we’re going to see how he evolves this week.
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola and player Rodri (Photo Credit: Manchester City website)
With crucial fixtures coming up, including Champions League commitments, Guardiola will be hoping Rodri’s recovery stays on track, as his return could be the boost City need to regain full momentum in their trophies chase.
One of the few bright sparks in an otherwise difficult start to Leicester City’s campaign has been Jeremy Monga, a 16-year-old winger who has quickly emerged as one of English football’s most exciting young prospects.
Despite Leicester’s struggles in the Championship, Monga’s pace, flair, and creativity have caught the attention of top clubs across Europe.
According to TBR Football, Manchester City are currently leading the race to sign the teenager, a player they came close to landing last summer before he chose to remain in Leicester’s academy setup.
Jeremy Monga has impressed top clubs in Europe
Monga’s rise through the ranks has been nothing short of remarkable. The young winger has seamlessly transitioned from youth football to the senior setup, becoming a regular starter in recent weeks.
His ability to glide past defenders, coupled with sharp decision-making in the final third, has made him one of Leicester’s most talked-about talents.
So far this season, he has contributed one goal and one assist, and more importantly, has shown the maturity and composure of a player well beyond his years.
City’s interest in Monga is not new. The Premier League champions have been monitoring his development closely and view him as a player who fits their long-term project under Pep Guardiola.
However, what makes the situation particularly intriguing is that Monga, at just 16, cannot yet sign a professional contract.
This leaves Leicester in a vulnerable position, unable to prevent another club from swooping in and securing his services before he turns 17.
Such widespread attention shows the scale of Monga’s potential. Yet, despite the allure of these European giants, leaving Leicester prematurely could halt his progress.
At the King Power Stadium, he is already a regular in the Championship, gaining valuable first-team experience, something that would be far less likely at a top Premier League club, particularly at Man City, where he would likely return to youth or reserve football.
A few years ago it would probably have been a great surprise, but these days, Aston Villa beating Manchester City at Villa Park doesn’t seem too far from normal. It happened on Sunday, with Matty Cash scoring the only goal of the game. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aston Villa […]
Manchester City fans can finally breathe a bit easier, as midfield general Rodri is back in full training. The former Ballon d’Or winner, who’s been out once again following his return from his brutal ACL and meniscus injury suffered in 2024.
His absence had left a gaping hole in City’s structure. Without him, Guardiola’s side often looked disjointed, control faded, rhythm broke down, and that trademark midfield balance was gone. Rodri isn’t just another holding midfielder; he’s the heartbeat of the team, the one who breaks up play and starts attacks with frightening calmness.
Rodri receiving treatment from Manchester City medical staff (Photo Credit: Premier league X handle)
Losing him derailed City’s campaign last season; they stumbled out of the Champions League early and couldn’t hold on to their Premier League crown. Even since the start of the new season, Softfootball reports that the team have been struggling badly with him, recently losing 1-nil to Aston Villa away from home.
Manchester City revealed that the team has switched focus to their upcoming EFL Cup game against Swansea in a post via the team’s official X account:
Interestingly, Manchester City will be looking to preserve their midfield maestro; they won’t rush him back to the thick of things, opting instead to focus completely on his fitness. Rodri’s return couldn’t come at a better time. Manchester City have looked short of control in midfield and know they can’t afford another slow start; they are already six points off early league leaders Arsenal.
If Rodri rediscovers his rhythm quickly, City might just look like City again, fluid, composed, and terrifyingly efficient, which will be bad news to Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal Faithful.
Ezri Konsa’s stock keeps rising and the Premier League’s biggest clubs have noticed.
According to TBR Football, Manchester City and Tottenham are among several clubs monitoring the Aston Villa defender after a run of outstanding performances under Unai Emery.
City, who beat Villa to the signing of highly rated midfielder Sverre Nypan earlier this year, are now considering another raid on Emery’s squad as part of an anticipated defensive reshuffle.
Ezri Konsa has interest from several Premier League clubs
The level of interest doesn’t stop there. Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United have all scouted Konsa over the past year, showing how widely admired he has become.
Positionally intelligent and deceptively quick across the ground, Konsa has shown his quality for Villa consistently.
That mix has made him a cornerstone of Emery’s defensive structure, whether Villa set up in a compact mid-block or squeeze opponents higher up the pitch.
Since Guardiola likes to have versatile defenders at Man City, Konsa fits the profile. He can play as a centre-back in a back four as well as in a back three.
As City refresh a back unit that has carried heavy minutes across multiple trophy-chasing seasons, targeting a Premier League-hardened, home-grown option makes complete sense.
Ezri Konsa in action for Aston Villa (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
Chelsea retain a habit of stockpiling top domestic talent, Liverpool are attentive to defenders due to the uncertain future of Ibrahima Konate, and Man United are evaluating reliable Premier League profiles as they remodel their squad.
Konsa is a player who is high in-demand at the moment and Man City, along with all other top Premier League clubs are ready to offer him an opportunity to make a step forward in his career.
It remains to be seen who wins the race to sign him. Konsa would not be thinking about anything like that right now. He is currently focused on performing well and sealing his place in the England squad for the World Cup next year.
Aston Villa fans were in full voice after a sensational 1-0 victory over Manchester City, marking another high point in what’s becoming a defining season under Unai Emery. While Villa supporters flooded social media with praise for the team’s spirit and tactical precision, Manchester City fans turned their frustration toward Pep Guardiola’s constant rotation and puzzling tactical calls, Sotfootball reports
Villa Fans Ecstatic After Complete Team Display
It was a night of near perfection for Aston Villa, who outplayed the defending champions with a blend of discipline, intensity, and individual brilliance. Fans hailed the team’s balance, from André Onana’s midfield dominance to Matty Cash’s inspired performance.
Aston Villa players celebrate after scoring (Photo Credit: Aston Villa X handle)
What a Cash! What a match! Villa in the soundly beating Man City era. What a time to watch this club. Small shout to Martinez… despite being a lil’ grumpy with him still… damn it if he isn’t a great keeper.
Aston Villa took to their official X handle shortly after the final whistle to celebrate the performance, posting a short clip of André Onana’s commanding display, they posted:
Gigantic defensive performance. By far Onana’s best game for us, one of the most complete DM showings you’ll ever see. Cash once again superb — handled two very different wingers incredibly well and scored a beauty. And Konsa with one of his best ever displays. Incredible stuff.
I could not fault a single Aston Villa player or coach today. Absolutely flawless. Onana set his standard for the rest of the season today. Cracking goal Cash. City simply can’t navigate McGinn’s big backside. Konsa, Barkley crucial interceptions late.
Matty Cash, who scored the only goal and put in a tireless defensive shift, shared his excitement with Villa TV, which was shared via the team’s official X handle, they posted;
For Manchester City supporters, the night was one of deep frustration. Many fans on X questioned Guardiola’s decisions, particularly his decision to experiment once again with Stones in midfield and to bench several key players.
Manchester City’s Captain Ruben Dias greeting the fans and thanking them for their support after the game (Photo Credit: Manchester City X handle)
Can someone tell Pep there are no small teams in the league anymore? You can’t keep benching your best players and expect consistency. Nico O’Reilly has shown more in limited minutes than some regular starters. This loss is on him.
Got exactly what we deserved from that starting lineup. We simply can’t be lining up with such a weak midfield. Nothing learned from the previous two games away at Villa when Stones was rolled out again in midfield. We are a midtable team without Rodri or Nico G on the field.
Following the loss, Manchester City posted on their official X account to thank traveling supporters for their unwavering backing:
O’Riley, Cherki, and Marmoudh should have started or come on early in the second half. Gvardiol and Dias — why change them? Savinho was anonymous in the second half yet Pep kept him on. Nobody knew how to get the ball to Haaland.
This is all on Pep. Aston Villa is not a division 2 team to gamble your lineup. Bobb is not City’s standard — he should go play in the Championship. Whoever stopped that Savinho-to-Tottenham deal needs to be sacked from the board. Nonsense.
For Aston Villa, this result cements their growing reputation as genuine contenders for European qualification. With André Onana finding his rhythm in midfield, Matty Cash rediscovering top form, and Unai Emery’s system thriving, optimism is sky-high at Villa Park.
For Manchester City, however, the pressure is mounting. Guardiola’s rotation policy and experimental setups have come under heavy fire from fans, and the Blue side of Manchester will need to rediscover their focus quickly to stay in the title race.
After the match, Unai Emery revealed during his post match interview that he values Elliot but had to leave him out for tactical reasons. Fabrizio Romano shared via his official X handle. He wrote:
Unai Emery on Harvey Elliott left out of Villa squad: I told him to keep going. We signed Harvey because I believe in him. I am happy with him, he’s training well. His commitment is fantastic, he’s a good guy. It was a tactical decision.
Elliot joined Aston Villa on transfer deadline day on loan from Liverpool. But he has struggled for game time with Villa and Emery dropping him against Manchester City when he is fully fit is not good news for the midfielder.
Elliot left Liverpool because he wanted more playing time as he was a fringe star at Anfield but his situation hasn’t changed with places for the 2026 World Cup reducing by the day, the England youngster is desperate for more game time.
As a result of the win, Aston Villa moved into eighth position on the Premier League table with 15 points while Manchester City sit fifth with 16 points.
Manchester City’s unbeaten Premier League run since August came to an end with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa, a result that reminded the cityzens of how fine the margins can be at the top level. Despite dominating large spells of the game, City couldn’t find a way past a resilient Villa side who defended with heart and discipline, Softfootball reports.
The loss comes just days after Pep Guardiola’s men delivered an impressive 2-0 win over Villarreal in the UEFA Champions League. The City boss and his players will now be aiming to regroup quickly and return to winning ways as they look to stay within reach of the league’s summit.
Pep Guardiola (Photo Credit: Manchester City via website)
Following the game, Manchester City shared a statement from the post-match press conference on their official X handle, iwhere Guardiola reflected on the defeat, and how the team plans to respond. Guardiola stated;
We played a really good team and a good game. We played aggressively.
In general, we were there. The shots, crosses, blocks. They defended really well and the goalkeeper is fantastic. In general I don’t have much complaint. Little details but good.
While the defeat stings, Guardiola’s composed reaction signals belief in his squad’s mental toughness. With tough fixtures ahead, the City boss will hope the setback serves as fuel for his side’s continued push for domestic and European glory.
Aston Villa continued their remarkable turnaround under Unai Emery, becoming just the second team in top-flight history to follow a five-game winless start with four straight victories, after Matty Cash’s first-half strike handed Manchester City their first Premier League defeat since August, Softfootball reports.
City, who seemed to have regained momentum after a convincing 2-0 win over Everton, last weekend, were stunned early on when Villa took the lead inside 20 minutes. A cleverly worked short corner found its way to Matty Cash on the edge of the area, and the Polish full-back shifted past Bernardo Silva before rifling a low, left-footed drive beyond an unmoved Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Matty Cash Celebrates after scoring for Aston Villa against Manchester City (Photo Credit: Aston Villa X handle)
Erling Haaland almost provided an immediate response when he broke into the Villa box, but the Norwegian’s effort was brilliantly denied by Emiliano Martínez, a moment that set the tone for the night.
Villa’s first-half joy was dampened by an injury to Emiliano Buendía, forcing an early change that introduced Jadon Sancho for his first Premier League home appearance in a Villa shirt. The Manchester United loanee quickly made an impression, linking up with John McGinn to create a deflected chance that fizzed narrowly wide.
Aston Villa Players celebrate after full time whistle (Photo Credit: Aston Villa X handle)
Trailing at the break for the first time in an away Premier League game this season, Pep Guardiola’s men returned with renewed intent. Savinho’s quick feet forced two desperate defensive blocks from Villa before the hour mark as City piled on the pressure. Guardiola then turned to his bench, introducing Nico González, Nico O’Reilly, and Jérémy Doku in search of an equaliser.
Among the substitutes was young Rayan Cherki, whom Pep once described as one of the greatest talents I’ve ever seen. But tonight simply wasn’t City’s day. Despite being brought on for Tijjani Reijnders, Cherki struggled to find the spark his manager hoped for as Villa stood firm.
Matty Cash Celebrates after scoring for Aston Villa against Manchester City (Photo Credit: Aston Villa X handle)
At the other end, Sancho nearly doubled Villa’s advantage when he wriggled into the box and forced Donnarumma into a sharp save before seeing his rebound pushed away as well. That missed opportunity almost came back to haunt them when Haaland thought he had grabbed a stoppage-time equaliser, only for the assistant’s flag to cut short City’s celebrations.
After the game, Aston villa posted on their official X handle, the players reactions to the victory on the road as the head back to the dressing room. Watch below:
The win whichh was Villa’s third consecutive home triumph over City lifted Unai Emery’s side to seventh, just a point behind Pep Guardiola’s men in fourth. For the cityzens, the defeat snapped a nine-match unbeaten run across all competitions and served as a sobering reminder that even the very best can be undone by a side playing with Villa’s belief, resilience, and hunger.
Man City and Tottenham have competed closely on the pitch in recent seasons, and they are set to do so on the transfer front in 2026. Both clubs want to add defensive reinforcements to their squad, and they have set their sights on a particular target: Ezri Konsa.
Konsa has been a very consistent performer for Aston Villa, and at 28, he is in the prime of his career. He has made his way into the England setup in the last couple of years, and this has triggered interest in his services.
Ezri Konsa attracting interest from Man City and Tottenham
Ezri Konsa in action for Aston Villa. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
As per TBR Football, Graeme Bailey has confirmed that Man City and Tottenham want to sign Konsa, and although Aston Villa have no plans to sell, they have to consider a transfer if he does not sign a new contract before next summer.
“Ezri Konsa’s name is coming up quite a lot when you talk to clubs about potential defensive options. Clearly, Villa do not want to sell but he has just over two years left on his deal, he is now one of England’s top defenders, and Villa are likely going to have to tie him down to a new deal.
“Konsa is a nailed-on Premier League performer who is now showing it at international level. It is not a shock to me that some very big clubs are keeping an eye on him.”
Konsa was lined up by Liverpool during the summer, so it would be no surprise to see him move on in 2026 – especially if he decides against penning a new deal at Aston Villa. For Man City or Tottenham, he would be a fantastic addition to their respective first team squads, but for now, it remains to be seen whether either club makes a move in the coming months.
Ahead of Villa’s clash with City, Unai Emery shared his thoughts on the challenges of facing the Cityzens during a pre match conference interview shared on the club’s official X handle.
Unai Emery (Photo Credit: Aston Villa mEDIA)
He emphasized on the importance of the team’s collective focus on Erling Haaling saying:
Firstly, collectively we should try to be very, very focused to stop [Haaland]… we will need some cover with other players, and then tactically we can stop him in different ways… everything that happened yesterday is learning… now focusing Premier League, Manchester City on Sunday.
Emery also explained his approach for selecting players while focusing on central midfielders.
Harvey is a 10 number in our structure… his performance was not enough (up to this point)… he has to continue working like he is doing in the training session and getting his confidence in the performance we need through him.
The Villans, via their official X handle, celebrated Unai Emery’s three-year tenure at Aston Villa. They shared a special video montage to commemorate his time in charge, highlighting memorable European nights, tactical milestones, and the remarkable transformation he has led since taking over in 2022. Watch below:
From touchline passion to special European nights at Villa Park – the best moments after three years of Unai Emery.
City’s manager Pep Guardiola during his pre-match press conference interview that was shared on the club’s official YouTube channel provided updates ahead of their clash with the Villans.
Pep Guardiola (Photo Credit: Manchester City MEDIA)
On the squads fitness, Guardiola confirmed that Nico Gonzoles, who was substituted during City’s 2-0 away win over Villarreal with a foot injury, would be accessed before the clash. Abdukodir Khusanov and Rodri would still be sidelined.
The manager also praised Matheus Nunes, who has been impressive since the departure of Kyle Walker. He said:
He can be an incredible right-back. Matheus is a holding midfielder with incredible physicality… he has special attributions to play in the sides, and in the last two or three games he has played unbelievable.
Discussing City’s league position and the bigger picture for the title race, Guardiola added:
I know the pundits and specialists… Always you wait 10-15 games to know exactly what’s going on. Obviously Liverpool and Arsenal will be there, someone else will be there and hopefully we can be there too.
The Cityzens official X handle, highlighting the squads preparation for the game ahead as they shared:
In a clip seen on the club’s official X handle, Erling Haaland was seen mimicking former defender Aleksander Kolarov as he showed his versatility, precise crossing, and ball control. Watch below:
Aston’s Villa’s strong home form under Unai Emery faces Manchester City’s dominant record and unbeaten run. They hold 31 Premier League wins and 101 goals against Villa. While the Villans resilience suggests a tight game, City’s unbeaten steak gives them the edge.
Key battles will feature Haaland testing The Lion’s defense, Nunes pressing down the left flank, and a fierce midfield duel where City will look to control possession.
The Lions however rests their hopes on Ollie Watkins, Donyell Malen, and Emiliano Buendía to create decisive moments, while Emery’s tactical setup will aim to disrupt City’s rhythm and exploit transitions.
Expected Lineups
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Emiliano Martinez; Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, Lucas Digne; Boubacar Kamara, Amadou Onana; Evann Guessand, Morgan Rogers, John McGinn; Donyell Malen.
Manchester City (4-1-4-1): Gianluigi Donnarumma; Matheus Nunes, Rúben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Nathan Aké; Rico Lewis; Phil Foden, Tijjani Reijnders, Bernardo Silva, Savinho; Erling Haaland.
Predictions
While Villa have the home advantage and a rejuvenated squad under Emery, City’s experience, depth, and recent form make them favorites.
Expect tactical battles across midfield and wide areas, with Haaland likely to be decisive. A closely fought match seems likely, but City may edge it with quality and clinical finishing.
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