Pep Guardiola backs Man City star Rodri to make move into management as Cityzens boss heaps praise on 'really, really important' midfielder ahead of crunch Liverpool clash

The current Manchester City boss claimed that Rodri has the ability to become a quality manager in the future as he heaped praise on the Ciyzens' star midfielder. He also claimed that the Spain international will be an important of the team set to take on Liverpool in a blockbuster Premier League clash on Sunday at Anfield.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the match, the Catalan coach said: "He is a really, really important player. But not just Rodri to make a good process, we need the contribution from everyone.

Guardiola added, "Yeah, always we try to figure out how good he will settle with us. He was playing in a big team, he was with Villarreal, and they play well and then after he was at Atletico Madrid, a top team. When you take players from those environments you expect to get someone who is well educated and has personality - but you never know. All teams make mistakes. there are many thousands of reasons why sometimes it doesn’t work. Rodri was a young boy, but now with the experience and the games he has played, he has become a top-class player."

The legendary manager was also asked if Rodri could follow in the footsteps of his former charges Xavi and Xabi Alonso by becoming a manager in the future, the Cityzens manager said: "He can be yeah - always I had the theory good holding midfielders can become good managers because they have to see the game in the whole perspective. It depends on the desire they have to do it, of course."

After facing the Premier League leaders, the reigning English champions will next take on Newcastle United in the FA Cup quarter-final on March 16.