Midfielder has only played a handful of games this season; Guardiola says his squad players “didn’t try” against Leverkusen
Pep Guardiola has confirmed Rodri is still unavailable for Manchester City with a hamstring issue, but said the player was “not far off” from returning to the pitch.
The midfielder has only played a handful of games this season, his last appearance being a cameo against Bournemouth at the beginning of November.
In his absence, Nico Gonzalez has deputised at the base of the midfield, although he is a level below the Ballon d’Or winner.
Guardiola also questioned the mindset of his squad players after Manchester City were beaten 2-0 by Bayer Leverkusen in midweek. The City manager made 10 changes from his regular lineup to hand opportunities to fringe players, but it backfired.
“We didn’t try and in football when you play on the green you have to try things and we didn’t try,” Guardiola said. “Maybe I have a theory to rotate because it’s impossible to sustain but I had a lot of confidence in them and I still do.
“I have a huge value for what they are as football players. Maybe I think higher of them than they think about themselves.
“I’m pretty sure that they, surrounded by other players, will play good. I think they played not to make mistakes, not to play to do something. That is so difficult.
“In football, you have to play defensive and offensive and you have to try. They played to be safe, to not make mistakes and that’s why it’s so difficult.”
City face Leeds United at the Etihad on Saturday. Daniel Farke’s side sit in the relegation zone after just one win in their last six Premier League matches, but he is confident they can stay up.
Farke said: “We are fully concentrated and focused. I’m confident and I’m also fully convinced.
“When we started, the goal was to finish 17th or above and to finish 17th would be a great success. We want to stay in this league. I didn’t expect it would be an easy ride.
“I see what the lads are doing, how they train, how tight they are together and when I judge the objective data, it gives me lots of confidence that we have enough to succeed.”
