‘If Rodri doesn’t want to play, he won’t,’ says Guardiola

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he is willing to rest Rodri after the midfielder said he needed a break.

Rodri, 27, has played 41 games this season and indicated after Tuesday’s Champions League draw at Real Madrid that City were planning on resting him.

Guardiola’s side play third-bottom Luton in the Premier League at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

“If a player doesn’t want to play then he’s not going to play, simple,” said the Manchester City manager.

Tuesday’s 3-3 draw at Real in their Champions League quarter-final first leg made it 429 days and 66 games since Rodri lost a game playing for City in any competition.

Across Europe’s top five leagues only three players have made more starts than the Spain international this season, Arsenal defender William Saliba (42 starts) and two goalkeepers.

He has missed four domestic games through suspension this season, with City losing all four.

“Take a look at our games and then you realise. He’s so important for the quality that he gives,” added Guardiola, whose side go into the Premier League weekend third in the table with seven games remaining.

“I have the feeling that the games when he was tired like against Crystal Palace and Madrid, he was better in the second half. He runs more and was more precise in the second half than the first.

“More than the physicality, it is a case of spending mental energy. Playing every three days, three days. Of course he’s tired, playing a lot of minutes.”