Guardiola Provides Rodri Update, Reflects on Stones Departure Ahead of Everton Showdown

Pep Guardiola delivered a vintage moment of dry humour when asked why he chose to attend a League One fixture between Stockport County and Port Vale rather than watching a Champions League semi-final live. "The managers aren't good, Luis Enrique and Vincent Kompany, really, really terrible players," the Manchester City boss quipped with trademark sarcasm, highlighting his genuine appreciation for English football at every level.

The Spanish tactician later confessed he watched the PSG versus Bayern Munich thriller—a 5-4 spectacle—after the fact, wine glass in hand, already aware of the outcome. Typical Guardiola style. While the comment drew laughs, his sincere affection for the English game across all divisions shone through.

Rodri inching toward comeback, Stones set to depart

The more concrete updates from Guardiola's pre-match media availability focused on team fitness ahead of Monday's Everton encounter. Rodri, Ruben Dias, and Josko Gvardiol are all progressing in their recoveries, though the manager remained deliberately vague about the Spanish midfielder's chances of featuring at Goodison Park. "He hasn't trained with the group yet, so we'll assess things over the coming days. Will he be ready for Everton? I'm always optimistic," Guardiola stated, leaving the door open to interpretation.

Getting Rodri back would represent a massive lift for City's title aspirations—his prolonged absence has proven costly throughout the campaign. His presence alone substantially improves City's chances in any fixture, and Monday's trip to Merseyside represents precisely the type of tricky away assignment that could go sideways without his control in midfield.

Regarding John Stones and his impending summer departure, Guardiola spoke with unexpected warmth for someone losing a key player. "He was among my very first signings here," the manager recalled, remembering a trip to London where he met Stones at his brother's residence. Guardiola boldly declared him "easily the best player" in the Champions League final in Istanbul—a claim often overlooked in Treble discussions but one that stands up under scrutiny.

No sympathy for fixture complaints

Guardiola took a clear shot at PSG's postponed Ligue 1 matches and the general tendency of managers to grumble about congested calendars. "If you don't like the schedule, go manage in France or Portugal," he stated bluntly. This hardline stance has been consistent since his Barcelona era, and he shows zero indication of moderating it.

With City eliminated from European competition, the reduced fixture load has at least afforded Guardiola opportunities to scout upcoming opponents. He praised Brentford's performance at Old Trafford despite their defeat, calling them "very good" in that match, and mentioned he might watch Arsenal face Fulham on Saturday evening at 5:30 PM if training wraps up in time.

Should Arsenal extend their advantage at the top, it would significantly increase the pressure on City heading into their Monday fixture. Guardiola publicly downplayed the significance—"at this point in the season, nothing really changes"—but the reality is stark: a two-point deficit looks vastly different from a five-point gap when you're the chasing side.

As for the Everton matchup, Guardiola anticipates a difficult challenge. David Moyes at the helm, a new stadium environment, and a squad with European qualification ambitions and current form on their side. "Another cup final for us," Guardiola acknowledged. He'll miss the historic Goodison Park atmosphere. But nostalgia doesn't earn three points.