'What's the problem?' - Pep Guardiola's ruthless message to Rodri and other tired Man City players

Pep Guardiola believes Rodri will quickly change his mind over wanting a rest in the coming fixtures, as he told any Manchester City player who doesn't want to play that he has no problem replacing them.

Guardiola had already been asked about Rodri's eyecatching comments that he needs a rest after playing 40 times this season. He has sat out just four times all year, after saying in the summer that he cannot maintain the excessive workload of last season. He has played 79 per cent of all available minutes for City so far in 2023/24.

After his comments, players' union FIFPRO backed up the Spaniard, pointing out that he played an average of 88 minutes when he featured last season, and only met the union's minimum recommendation of time off between seasons by one day.

ALSO READ: Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne latest as Pep Guardiola delivers Rodri Man City rotation verdict

ALSO READ: Pep Guardiola makes major change to Man City training schedule amid 'toughest season' he's ever had

Guardiola has been a vocal critic of the schedule, and warned that injuries to players will get 'worse and worse and worse' with more European games, but he also appeared to have little sympathy for Rodri by telling him that someone else will be ready to take his place if he doesn't want to play.

“Fatigue is fatigue. Play another player, when a player is fatigued, player another allow recovery for the other one," said the manager.

"When a player is fatigued, he is fatigued, it is normal. Lots of minutes, national teams, travel. This is the last part of the season - it is one month and a half until the end. We fought a lot to be here, now everything to be here.

"It is normal – if one player feels that, what is the problem? All the teams who