Guardiola confident Nico can fill void left by Rodri

Pep Guardiola believes new Manchester City signing Nico Gonzalez can plug the gap left behind in midfield by Rodri.

City signed the 23-year-old from Porto on a four-and-a-half-year deal on deadline day for £50million, becoming their fourth signing of the window after Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis.

He made 68 appearances for Porto, impressing this season as he helped them to third in the Primeira Liga.

No player in the Portuguese top flight has won more tackles for Porto than Nico (19), while only Nehuen Perez (926) and Otavio (919) have completed more passes than the Spaniard (819).

Ballon d'Or winner Rodri has been out since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in September. Despite Guardiola saying at the time that the Spaniard would not play again this season, he is included in City's Champions League squad for the knockout stages.

But with his return still some way down the line, Guardiola has backed Nico to prove a difference-maker for City.

"It's a position where we were weak after the absence from Rodri," Guardiola said in a press conference.

"A young player, 23 years old, can play number six and number eight, more in the pockets. Physicality - he's a strong young boy.

"I know him from the Barcelona academy and his father was working here. I'm really pleased from the effort of the club to bring him here for the next years."

Guardiola was also asked about Jack Grealish's lack of football in recent weeks but insisted that was down to the form of other players.

Grealish, who has had injury troubles this term, has made 22 appearances for City so far in 2024-25, racking up 1,108 minutes across all competitions.

Savinho, who has two goals and eight assists while creating 47 chances, and Jeremy Doku (six goals, seven assists) have been preferred to Grealish, with Guardiola apologetic about his selections.

"I'm so sorry they don't get the minutes that maybe they deserve but, at the end, the contributions from Jeremy or Savinho have been massive this season," Guardiola said.

"This is the only reason why; it's not personal, or I don't like Jack, or I don't have confidence in him.

"The manager has to sometimes select one player in front of another, not just because you don't like the other one, but because a player can give you in the certain moment of a season, something that is better. No more than that.

"Of course, I make mistakes, and maybe he should play in other games, or maybe players who play shouldn't, but it's my world, my life, and you have to accept it."

City, who beat Salford City 8-0 in the FA Cup third round, face League One Leyton Orient in the fourth round on Saturday, but the Spaniard is still wary of the threat they pose.

"Yeah of course [they will bring trouble]," he added.

"Always we've had problems away in this competition, FA Cup or [EFL] Cup, away to teams in the Championship or League One or even League Two.

"Always we struggle. But we are ready for the challenge. Every game is a new opportunity."