Rodri comments, Pep's future and Liverpool FA Cup tie

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Rodri comments, Pep's future and Liverpool FA Cup tie - what was said at Man City press conference

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola faced the media on Good Friday ahead of the FA Cup quarter-final with Liverpool on Easter Saturday

Pep Guardiola remained coy on his own future and calm on that of star midfielder Rodri when he faced the media on Friday.

The Manchester City boss was speaking for the first time since the Carabao Cup final victory over Arsenal when he conducted his press conference ahead of the FA Cup last eight clash with Liverpool on Saturday.

The two-week international break saw Rodri discuss the possibility of moving to Real Madrid while there was also increased speculation about the prospect of Guardiola himself leaving the club in the summer, a year before his contract runs out in 2027.

The City boss briefly answered both those questions along with plenty more. Catch up with what was said in our blog below.

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Key Events

Today's headlines

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The full Foden picture

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Pep's full quote on Rodri

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Pep on Rodri's comments during the international break

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Pep on his future

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Lijnders insight

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Today's headlines

That is everything from Guardiola this lunchtime. We will of course be back tomorrow with all the action from the Etihad but in the meantime here's the City headlines.

Guardiola responds to Foden concerns

City get early Liverpool hint ahead of FA Cup tie

The full Foden picture

Guardiola said he had no concerns over Phil Foden after another difficult week for the Manchester City midfielder. Foden was given two games to play his way into England's plans for the 2026 World Cup but was unable to take his opportunities to leave himself in danger of missing the major international tournament.

Tuchel ended the England camp by saying that he could take Foden even if there is no upturn in form, there was no guarantee that he would. The coach admitted to starting the 25-year-old on the back of promising displays in training with a hope that he would 'surprise' people in games, only for that plan not to come off.

If Foden is to work his way onto the England plane for the World Cup, he will first have to get back into Guardiola's favour. The Stockport schemer was one of City's best players in the first half of the season but has lost his way since then and after no minutes in either leg of the Champions League defeat to Real Madrid he was only given a few in the Carabao Cup final win over Arsenal.

Read more here

Pep on the break

I would love to have next week in the Champions League and have a busy schedule. Unfortunately we are out but focus on this game and then we have a long week to prepare against Chelsea, one of the only chances we have to be still there for the Premier League and focus on that. It's still so difficult for me to understand how it is possible when you are nine months playing for all the titles to go to continents for friendly games. The risk for injuries is massive. It makes no sense. Of course the players who don't go to the national teams it is a break for the month or weeks ahead of us.

More from Pep on cup record

It feels like a long time ago already. It is nice to win another title, especially against, so far, the best team in Europe. It was a good test. Once you finish one, it is the next one. We have the chance to reach an incredible milestone of eight semi-finals in a row, which has never been done.

Pep on Salah legacy

One of the greats. What a player, I think an incredible human being. Goals and assists, an absolute legend for Liverpool and for the whole Premier League for what he has done. I think it's a good moment to say goodbye to him in this country tomorrow, he deserves the incredible recognition that he has given to world football, especially in this country.

Pep's full quote on Rodri

No. No opinion because I know the intention of the club and I know the intention of him I think but I don't know.

Pep on Liverpool

The team made an incredible investment last season to be there many years, they are in the Champions League. It is a top contender, top class players.

Pep on his FA Cup record

You can have a bad afternoon. It can happen. We've always been there. That makes me proud. Seven semi-finals in a row. That is really, really good.

Pep on Rodri's comments during the international break

No opinion, I know the intentions of the club.

Pep on his future

He wasn't taking that question on today!

I have talked many times about that

Here's Pep

He starts by reflecting on the Carabao Cup victory and how it was important for the squad but also that it already feels a long time ago!

Pep is due any minute

The City boss will be along in a couple of minutes to offer his thoughts ahead of the weekend.

We'll bring you updates right here, you might just have time for a brew if you're quick!

Liverpool offer Isak update

Arne Slot said that Alexander Isak could feature this weekend having returned to training.

Is he ready to play some minutes? That's the question. It's a difficult one. It is not a normal one, if he can only play 10 minutes and it goes to extra time... Maybe a few minutes. Let's wait and see how it is today. It would not make any sense to start him. I see a player that is physically in a much better place but going from 100 days off to the intensity of the Premier League is difficult. I am really happy I have a number nine available again behind or playing with Hugo Ekitike. That's already a positive thing. Next season after a proper pre-season, we could expect more from him, maybe than now. But even the way he is now is a big step forward for us.

Chelsea star banned

Liam Rosenior says Enzo Fernandez will not play in Chelsea's next two matches because of comments he made about his future and links with Real Madrid, meaning he will miss the game with Manchester City next weekend.

The midfielder threw his future at Stamford Bridge into question during the international break, hinting at a possible departure in the summer transfer window.

Rosenior's side are in turmoil, having lost their last four matches across all four competitions – crashing out of the Champions League and facing a battle to qualify for next season's competition. While they have a kind FA Cup draw on paper against League One strugglers Port Vale, the west London side then face a daunting league clash at home to Manchester City on Sunday, April 12.

And speaking to journalists at Cobham on Friday morning, the Chelsea manager revealed Fernandez will miss the FA Cup quarter-final tie on Saturday against Vale and next Sunday's Premier League clash against Pep Guardiola's side.

Read more here

City given Liverpool insight

City and Liverpool meet for a third time this season when they contest an FA Cup quarter-final this Saturday. Pep Guardiola's side won home and away in the Premier League to give the club a rare double, and will be hungry to book another trip to Wembley after lifting the Carabao Cup there last month following a brilliant 2-0 win over Arsenal.

In what has been a disappointing season after their title triumph last year, Liverpool cannot afford to pick and choose their priorities as they continue in the Champions League while scrapping to qualify for next season's edition in the league. The FA Cup is their easiest route to a trophy with every team remaining just three games from glory.

Back to it then

So domestic football is back!

After a fortnight off for international action, City return and kick off the weekend with a blockbuster FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool. The Blues will be favourites and are still competing for three trophies having won the Carabao Cup and remaining just about in the hunt for the Premier League.

It's been a difficult season for Liverpool and City's home form has been largely excellent this term.

North Stand latest

City are expecting to open the top tier of the North Stand up this season in a move that could boost the noise for Pep Guardiola's side as they chase Arsenal in the Premier League. The club are close to completing the first stage of their £300m redevelopment and the plan is for more fans to be allowed in the ground before the end of the current campaign.

Following their Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid, City only have five home games left. Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final with Liverpool at the Etihad is the last round of the domestic cup competition that isn't played at Wembley, with the winners booking a trip to the capital later in April.

That leaves three Premier League games in the diary, with an enormous match against Arsenal on April 19 followed by games against Brentford on May 9 and Aston Villa on May 24 - the final day of the season. There is also a home game with Crystal Palace to be rearranged that was meant to be played on the weekend of the Carabao Cup final.

Read more here

Lijnders insight

Guardiola has more energy this season. City players have noticed it, staff have noticed it, and referees have certainly noticed it. Saturday's match with Liverpool will be the third game of the season Guardiola has been unable to direct from the dugout after accruing six yellow cards across the Premier League and FA Cup.

And despite the manager angrily remarking he will take extra holiday if he is banned from being in the technical area, everybody knows that is not true; the Catalan will be as passionate as usual, just shouting his instructions down the phone at assistant Pep Lijnders instead. As the No.2 joked after the same happened at West Ham last month, they were sure to charge up all devices before the game.

Everyone can see why Guardiola has extra fire in his belly, and there are two main theories behind this. The first is that the great manager knows he is leaving at the end of the season and so - like his biggest nemesis Jurgen Klopp - can throw more at this year because he knows there are endless vacations waiting beyond that.

FA Cup draw details

City will hope to be in the draw for the last four on Sunday.

The FA Cup semi-final draw takes place after West Ham's game with Leeds on Sunday afternoon.

The draw will be available for fans to watch on TNT Sports 1, HBO Max and the TNT Sports YouTube channel approximately 15 minutes after full-time. The draw will be made by Ally McCoist and the ball numbers are below.

1. Southampton or Arsenal

2. Chelsea or Port Vale 3. Manchester City or Liverpool

4. West Ham United or Leeds United

Haaland puzzle

Ahead of Norway's friendly with Switzerland on Tuesday night, Erling Haaland was handed an award for being the top goalscorer in World Cup qualifying. His 16 goals in eight games to propel Norway to their first major tournament in a generation were more than double what any other European player managed.

There's a strong chance that the 25-year-old will be picking up a similar prize ahead of Manchester City's game with Aston Villa towards the end of May. Haaland is three goals clear of Brentford's Igor Thiago in the Premier League goal charts and it would be a surprise if he was overtaken in that Golden Boot race as well.

And yet, something still isn't right at the moment with what the numbers irrefutably prove are the deadliest striker in world football. Just as it felt like Haaland couldn't stop scoring when he was driving Norway and City forward in autumn, the No.9 is struggling to break free of a winter hibernation.

Read more here

Rodri reality

For the second time in a month, Rodri finds himself as the hapless victim to a vicious media who go out of their way to make stories about him. All he does is give them his time and his answers and they have the audacity to broadcast exactly what he has said to the world.

To say that Rodri is an intelligent man, the Manchester City midfielder is being deliberately ignorant again as he picks an easy target. Just like his FA charge, trying to blame the media for reporting exactly what was said only works because everyone would rather blame 'the media' - this homogenous entity that doesn't really exist.

Rodri has been brought up in Spain and knows that if he gives an interview to Spanish media and is generally flattering about Real Madrid and wanting to return to La Liga at some point that these will be the headlines. It's not rocket science, and it's not unfair.

Read more here

Talking City

The Talking City podcast returned this week with Simon Bajkowski and Alex James discussing Rodri's international camp comments, the fallout from the Carabao Cup victory. Watch along here

Your questions answered

We host a weekly City Q&A with our chief City writer Simon Bajkowski.

This week we took a look at the summer transfer window as well as the state of play ahead of the World Cup and the impact that could have on City.

After three transfer windows that have transformed the squad, it looks like there will be more change ahead. Elliot Anderson, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva and plenty more cropped up. Read more here.

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