Rodri is reborn from the ashes: Guardiola s coaching wisdom

In the football field, players' return after serious injury is always accompanied by hope and unknown. Spanish midfielder Rodri, with his tenacious perseverance, returned strongly after a major injury to torn anterior cruciate ligament. However, when he was looking forward to returning to the arena to show his strength, head coach Guardiola showed calmness and rationality, controlling the rhythm at critical moments.

Rodri returns to the arena, demonstrating the most valuable qualities of football players - fighting spirit and extreme desire for victory. He is the player the coaches dream of, always putting team interests first, doing whatever it takes to win, and being anxious about returning to the field.

Last September, Rodri was diagnosed with a torn ACL. According to conventional judgment, he needs to have a quit for at least one year. But Rodri refused to bow to fate and plunged into rehabilitation training, believing that he could return early. "The doctor said I would take a year off, but I don't think it will take that long." His words were firm.

For Rodri, who is at the peak of his career and a strong contender for the Golden Globes, watching the game on the sidelines is undoubtedly a torment. He is eager to participate in the final stage of the Premier League, and dreams of representing Spain in the European League and the highly anticipated club World Cup. In his eyes, time is extremely precious, and every game is an important accumulation of career.

Hard work pays off. Only 241 days after being injured, on May 20, Rodri came on as a substitute against Bournemouth. At that moment, everyone was excited. However, in Guardiola's tactical system, this is just the starting point for Rodri's return.

Rodri may feel that he is fully prepared, but Guardiola knows that his body needs more time to adapt to the high-intensity confrontation. Guardiola will never let emotional factors interfere with important decisions, whether it is the players' urgency or their own expectations.

Just 5 days later, in the key Champions League qualification match against Fulham, Rodri did not make a single minute. This decision surprised many people, but it fully reflects Guardiola's calmness and vision.

On May 26, the Spanish national team announced the list of European League participation, and Rodri was unexpectedly defeated, causing many confusion and disappointment. Coach Louis de LaFuent briefly explained: "Rodri has just made his comeback for eight months and has only played for 10 minutes in total." Behind this is the tacit protection strategy between Guardiola and the national team. With the trust and prestige accumulated in Manchester City for many years, Guardiola silently provides advice to his beloved disciples. At a time when Rodri was eager to return, Guardiola pulled him out of the risk of a hasty comeback, which was not a limit, but a deeper protection.

Even in the highly anticipated FIFA Club World Cup, Rodri's strength is unquestionable, but Guardiola still adheres to the principle of gradual progress. Against Vidard, Rodri came on as a substitute for about half an hour; against Ain, he was also arranged to play for 29 minutes. Since his comeback, he has played for about an hour in total. It seems that it is not long, but it is enough to help him regain the rhythm of the game and adapt to high-intensity confrontation. More importantly, it avoids the risk of potentially letting his previous 11 months of hard work go to waste. After the game, Guardiola said: "He performed well and played for more than half an hour, but there were still some difficulties. This is normal. After all, he just experienced a long-term injury. We miss Rodri very much, but we have to take everything slowly."

Rodri is not only an excellent midfielder, but also the pillar of the team and the core brain of tactical operation. In Guardiola's eyes, such precious players must be cared for with extreme patience. He knew very well that under the intensive schedule and huge pressure of modern football, hasty action is often the biggest hidden danger.

When Rodri was most eager to play, Guardiola chose to restrain himself and showed his unique control. This was not suppression, but for better protection. In this way, Rodri will not only play a role in the end of the season, but also hopes to continue to become Manchester City's soul in the next few years.