Pep Guardiola says that Rodri "has to control himself and his emotions" after the midfielder was sent off in Manchester City’s 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
Spain international Rodri was shown a straight red on 46 minutes for violent conduct after tangling with Morgan Gibbs-White, with VAR upholding referee Anthony Taylor's decision.
See: Man City extend perfect start but win marred by Rodri red card
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Man City are now set to lose the influential star for their upcoming Carabao Cup tie with Newcastle United on Wednesday, plus the Premier League matches against Wolverhampton Wanderers next Saturday and at title rivals Arsenal on Sunday 8 October.
"Hopefully Rodri will learn," Guardiola said of the player he had only days earlier hailed as "the best holding midfielder in the world".
"The game was perfect with 35 minutes gone and after it became chaos. Rodri has to control himself and his emotions. I can get a yellow card but Rodri can’t. I don’t play. The guys inside [the pitch] have to be careful.
Rodri apology
“I said at half-time, ‘Be careful guys, relax, control your emotions.’ Unfortunately, Rodri could not do it. Now we have to accept the decisions.
"Yes. I don’t like to play with 10 for our faults. I am angry, because I don't like playing with 10 men. He has apologised.”
Prior to Rodri's dismissal, early goals from Phil Foden and Erling Haaland had put City in control.
.@PhilFoden's first goal of the season at the end of a 46-pass move! ✨ pic.twitter.com/2qDBKQUKB7
— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 23, 2023
However his red card sparked a change of approach by Guardiola due to their numerical disadvantage.
“Our game in the first 35 minutes was beyond good, how we find our men free, it was really, really good," he added.
“It was a lot of minutes we had to defend, and we conceded one chance in the 94th minute. We didn’t concede anything else, against a team who won at Stamford Bridge and created problems at Arsenal and Old Trafford.
“I’m really satisfied and pleased for all of us.”
