Pep Guardiola believed the risk of playing Rodri in Manchester City's FA Cup semi-final against Southampton was not worth taking ahead of their Premier League title run-in.
The Citizens return to Wembley Stadium on Saturday, just over a month on from their EFL Cup final victory over Arsenal, with a win taking them ever closer to a potential treble.
After beating Arsenal in a top-of-the-table clash, Erling Haaland's fifth-minute strike earned a narrow 1-0 win over Burnley, which sent City to the top of the Premier League.
But their attentions now turn to the FA Cup, a competition they have not won since 2022-23, though Guardiola confirmed the clash came too soon for the influential Rodri.
The Spaniard was substituted in the 88th minute of City's win over Arsenal with a groin injury, but the issue is only expected to rule him out until their next league game on May 4.
"He's better. No, [he is not likely to play] we don't want to take the risk," Guardiola told reporters.
"I don't know [if he will be back for the Everton game] but we don't want to take a risk, because if he's injured, and we lose him the next five games. Rodri is so important."
City have faced Southampton in four previous FA Cup ties, winning 5-0 in 1909-10, 3-1 in 2006-07 and 4-1 in 2021-22. They lost 5-1 in the other in the third round in 1959-60.
The Citizens have also reached their eighth consecutive FA Cup semi-final, a run stretching back to 2018-19.
They have won their last three to reach the showpiece match. No side has ever reached the FA Cup final in four seasons in a row, but the odds are in their favour here.
Southampton have lost 13 of their last 18 matches against City in all competitions (W2 D3). Their most recent meeting was a goalless draw in May 2025 in the Premier League.
Watching on
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Guardiola suggested after the win over Burnley that wholesale changes could be made to take on the Championship side, with the likes of James Trafford, Tijjani Reijnders, Phil Foden, Nico Gonzalez and Omar Marmoush all in line to start.
The City boss cited emotional and physical fatigue brought on by the effort needed to beat Arsenal, but he acknowledged the difficulties Southampton will pose for his team.
"It was so demanding, the game against Arsenal, emotionally, it's normal," Guardiola added. "The people were so tired, and they took a train for hours.
"They were from here to the hotel and to Wembley. Tomorrow will be a fantastic day. So many, many thoughts. Still I am in my mind and we'll see tomorrow."
Southampton, meanwhile, are looking to become the first non-Premier League side to reach the FA Cup final since Cardiff City in 2007-08, who beat fellow Championship side Barnsley in the semi-final.
On the last 15 occasions a top-flight team has faced a side from outside the top-flight in the semi-final, the Premier League team has always gone on to the showpiece match.
The Saints have also lost eight of their 11 matches at Wembley (W3), including both of their FA Cup semi-finals in 2017-18 against Chelsea and 2020-21 against Leicester City.
Wembley
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Their three wins at the national stadium were in the 1976 FA Cup final against Manchester United, the 2010 EFL Trophy final against Carlisle and the 2024 Championship play-off final against Leeds.
But Southampton come into this clash with confidence, having gone unbeaten in their last 17 matches across all competitions, putting them in the race for automatic promotion.
However, the task of replacing two key members of the recent unbeaten run – the suspended Flynn Downes and Ryan Manning – is one that boss Tonda Eckert explained he will approach with full confidence.
"I think that we've shown in many parts of the season that we're able to find ways to play football games without key players," Eckert said.
"It might change the approach a little bit on how we go about the games we have coming up now, but we've had this over different spells with important players missing.
"We just need to make sure we adapt in some moments, maybe in the way we press or the way we build with him but I'm sure we'll find a way. I'm sure we'll have a solution on Saturday."