Rodri's comeback boosts Guardiola's faith in Manchester City's Premier League bid

Pep Guardiola feels Manchester City can vie for the Premier League crown as long as Rodri regains his peak condition following his injury layoff.

The 2024 Ballon d'Or recipient sat out much of the prior campaign due to knee surgery and has endured persistent fitness troubles this season.

Manchester City have dropped three matches in their initial nine league fixtures, falling six points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.

However, Guardiola's squad has tasted defeat just once across their most recent 11 outings in various competitions, making a solid start in the Champions League while progressing to the League Cup last eight.

Rodri looks likely to make his return after close to a month out when City entertain Bournemouth, who sit in second, at the Etihad Stadium this Sunday.

"I think he (Rodri) will be ready to help. I don't know if he will be able to play from the beginning, but hopefully he can be with us," Guardiola shared with journalists on Friday.

Erling Haaland is also available again, despite sustaining a minor injury during the 1-0 loss away to Aston Villa last weekend that derailed City's progress in the title contention.

"Still, we're not our best but we're close," Guardiola continued.

"I've said before that we have the smell when I see the team and the training dressing room, how we apply and how we want to do things.

"I have the feeling Rodri can become his best, we'll be a team that's difficult to beat.

"Will we be still close to the (title) fight? I don't know but from the beginning since the Club World Cup in the United States, I'm optimistic about what this team can do this season."

Manchester City enter the weekend trailing Bournemouth by two points, with the south coast side riding an eight-game unbeaten streak in the Premier League.

Guardiola has shown special admiration for Bournemouth since they profited from offloading three starters in their backline from the previous term.

Milos Kerkez headed to Liverpool, Dean Huijsen went to Real Madrid, and Illia Zabarnyi signed for Paris Saint-Germain, securing fees totalling more than £150 million ($198 million).

"They are top. How co-ordinated they are with the hierarchy with the sporting directors, with the managers and with the players," Guardiola remarked. 

"They have a clear philosophy and that doesn't change."