Guardiola Can’t Stop Praising Rodri—Says He’s Still the Best in the World

By: Oluwaseun Lawal

Pep Guardiola. Always got something to say, right? Friday afternoon, pre-match press conference. The room’s buzzing, reporters everywhere, mics in his face. And Pep, he’s got that look. You know, the one where he’s about to say something bold. He doesn’t disappoint.

“Rodri? Best player in the world. Still is. Until someone else gets picked, he’s my guy.” That’s what he says. No hesitation. No maybe, no probably. Just straight up. Rodri’s the best. End of story.

But here’s the thing. Rodri’s not had it easy. Last season, he went down hard against Arsenal. ACL injury. Nasty stuff. Out for months. City fans held their breath. The midfield just didn’t look the same without him. You could feel it. The rhythm, the control—gone. City finished third. Not what they wanted. Not what Pep wanted, either.

Rodri tried to come back late in the season. Looked sharp, then—bam. Another setback. Missed pre-season. Missed the first game against Wolves, too. City still won, 4-0. But you could tell, something was missing. That calm in the middle. That guy who just makes everything tick.

Now, though? He’s back. Fit. Ready. And Pep’s grinning. “He’s got the quality, the potential. No doubts. Just needs to get back into the rhythm—training, games, minutes. It’ll come.” Pep’s always talking about rhythm. Consistency. He loves that stuff.

And honestly, City needs him. They want that Premier League title back. Last season stung. Arsenal, Liverpool, even Spurs—they all looked hungry. City? They looked tired. But now, with Rodri back, there’s hope. Big hope.

But it’s not just about Rodri. City’s got new faces. Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki—both scored against Wolves. Not bad for a debut. James Trafford, the young keeper, got his first senior start. Big moment for him. Born and raised at City, now playing for the first team. That’s the dream, right?

But Pep’s not sure who’s starting in goal against Spurs. Ederson’s back. Rumors swirling about Galatasaray, but for now, he’s here. “The new guys bring energy, new ideas. I’ve changed staff, changed players. It’s tough, but it keeps things fresh,” Pep says. He’s always thinking about the next thing. Never sits still.

And then there’s Ruben Dias. Just signed a new deal. Two more years. He’s staying till 2029. “I’m thrilled,” Dias says. “City’s my home. The ambition here matches mine. I love the fans, love the city. Couldn’t imagine playing anywhere else.” You can hear the pride in his voice. He means it.

But Pep, he’s not getting carried away. “It’s just the first game. We did well, but we need to be better. Spurs are tough. We have to be consistent, keep improving.” That’s classic Pep. Never satisfied. Always pushing.

So, Saturday’s coming. City vs. Spurs. Rodri’s back. The Etihad will be rocking. Pep’s got his best player in the world on the pitch again. And you know what? Maybe he’s right. Maybe Rodri really is the best. Guess we’ll see soon enough.

Football’s funny like that. One week you’re out, the next you’re the hero. But for now, Pep’s made it clear—Rodri’s his man. And City? They’re ready to fight for everything, all over again.