Rodri Health Decision Shapes Manchester City’s FA Cup Semi-Final Against Southamptonnewsline24

Manchester City arrive at Wembley chasing another FA Cup final, but Pep Guardiola is set to keep Rodri out of the semi-final against Southampton, judging any appearance too risky with the Premier League title race and a possible treble still in play.

Rodri suffered a groin problem late in the win over Arsenal and left the pitch in the 88th minute. The midfielder is expected to return for Manchester City’s next league fixture on 4 May, yet Guardiola confirmed this FA Cup semi-final came slightly too soon.

Guardiola made clear that the medical staff and coaching group agreed to protect Rodri during this intense period. Manchester City do not want to stretch the issue into a longer absence, given the number of high-pressure fixtures that remain across competitions, including the league meeting with Everton.

“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.”

Manchester City’s schedule has been heavy, with the squad already winning the EFL Cup against Arsenal at Wembley a little over a month earlier. Since then, a key league victory over Arsenal in a top-of-the-table clash and a narrow 1-0 win away to Burnley, secured by Erling Haaland’s fifth-minute goal, have lifted Manchester City to the top of the Premier League.

This semi-final is Manchester City’s eighth in a row in the FA Cup, a sequence that started in the 2018-19 season. They have progressed from the last three to reach the final, but no team has ever appeared in the FA Cup final in four consecutive campaigns, a landmark Manchester City now have the chance to match.

Manchester City and Southampton have met four times previously in the FA Cup. Manchester City recorded victories by 5-0 in 1909-10, 3-1 in 2006-07 and 4-1 in 2021-22, while Southampton’s single success came in a 5-1 third-round win during the 1959-60 season. Their latest competitive meeting finished 0-0 in May 2025 in the Premier League.

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Guardiola signalled straight after the Burnley match that rotation was highly likely against Southampton. James Trafford, Tijjani Reijnders, Phil Foden, Nico Gonzalez and Omar Marmoush are all in contention to start, with the manager pointing to both emotional strain and physical tiredness after the demanding meeting with Arsenal.

Guardiola described the travel and mental load surrounding the Arsenal encounter and the trip to Wembley. “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.”

FA Cup semi-final challenge for Championship side Southampton

Southampton enter Wembley as a Championship team aiming to become the first non-Premier League side to reach the FA Cup final since Cardiff City in 2007-08, when Cardiff defeated Barnsley in the semi-final. On the last 15 occasions a top-flight club met lower-league opposition in the semi-final, the Premier League side always advanced.

Southampton’s broader Wembley record adds another layer. The Saints have lost eight of 11 matches at the national stadium, winning three. Those victories came in the 1976 FA Cup final against Manchester United, the 2010 EFL Trophy final versus Carlisle and the 2024 Championship play-off final against Leeds, while FA Cup semi-finals in 2017-18 and 2020-21 both ended in defeat.

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Recent form, however, strengthens Southampton’s belief. The team are unbeaten in 17 matches in all competitions, a sequence that has pushed Southampton towards the race for automatic promotion from the Championship, even as the squad now deal with suspensions for Flynn Downes and Ryan Manning in this semi-final.

Head coach Tonda Eckert must replace both Downes and Manning but expressed clear trust in the wider group. “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.”

Manchester City therefore approach this FA Cup semi-final balancing squad rotation, Rodri’s fitness and a packed calendar, while Southampton arrive with strong momentum but a challenging Wembley history. The tie offers Manchester City another step towards a treble and gives Southampton a rare chance to return to the final from outside the top flight.