Rodri offers insight into ‘boring’ recovery process from double Manchester City knee injury

Manchester City’s history-making Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has shone light on his ‘boring’ recovery process, admitting what makes the procedure more ‘enjoyable’.

The Spain international remains sidelined for both club and country having sustained damage to his anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus during Manchester City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the Premier League earlier this season.

Despite initial optimism over the extent of the problem, further assessment and checks made in his home country revealed to Manchester City medical staff that Rodri would be likely to miss out of the remainder of the campaign.

The 28-year-old is expected to move his recovery processes from Spain over to England and the City Football Academy after the turn of the year, and the player himself remains optimistic over a return to action for Manchester City before the end of the season.

But patience will almost certainly be required from the player’s side and certainly with no deadlines or strict timeframes for a return in mind, despite his own personal determination to feature again during the ongoing campaign.

Speaking during a new conversation with Spain’s RFEF, Rodri admitted that his recovery from a double knee injury is a ‘boring’ process, but one that becomes more enjoyable when he is able to introduce different activities into his schedule.

“It is a hard process, it is a long and boring process,” Rodri explained, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness. “Above all, the first months when I have not been able to bear weight and the exercises are more boring, you cannot do so many, you cannot put weight on the leg.

“Once you start walking it becomes more enjoyable, more fun, you introduce activities like riding a bike, walking, swimming. It becomes more enjoyable, but, yes, at the beginning it is a bit more of a drag.”

Whilst not discussing a timeframe for a return this time around, the Ballon d’Or winner admitted his optimism at being able to return ‘physically well’ whilst meeting his current deadlines throughout the process.

He continued, “My main objective is to recover physically well, to return, or give myself the option of being able to return, to the level I was at.

“I am trying to meet the deadlines in the best way, working hard to give myself and my body that opportunity to feel good again and play at my level.

“I am not thinking about titles or winning things, I am thinking about returning well and the rest will be a consequence.”

Manchester City have struggled without their star midfielder and find themselves desperately trying to pick up some form and consistency across competitions, starting with the pursuit of getting back to winning ways in the UEFA Champions League.

The last two outings in the tournament away to Sporting CP and at home to Feyenoord have brought about a 4-1 defeat and 3-3 draw respectively, whilst Premier League attentions bring Manchester United to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

In the English top-flight, City trail Liverpool by eight points, with Arne Slot’s side having a game in hand, whilst the FA Cup has brought Salford City to the Premier League champions’ agenda in the third round of the competition.