Recently, Manchester City midfielder Rodri gave an exclusive interview to As, looking back on 2023 and looking to the future.
Yes, without a doubt. Something like this will push you to a unique place where you are the chosen one. Suddenly, you become a part of the history of a particular moment. My role is not like that, I know it's my duty to win in midfield. But to be in a moment like this and to be part of the history of a club like Manchester City and its first Champions League triumph is your dream. I really remember Zinedine Zidane's goal in Glasgow. Or Iniesta's goal in Johannesburg. Some goals can change the careers of certain players. Now it's my turn and I feel lucky.
I remember it gave me a lot of joy, it made me very excited, it was a very intense final, we had very limited power. When I saw the ball coming, the first thing that came to my mind was a hard kick. I said, "Look, just kick it in." ”
No, I also thought that this might be the only chance I had in my life. Why not give it a try?I had two or three seconds to think about what to do, which could have been worse, but it was also good for me. I changed my mind twice and in the end, with a lot of people in the box, I hit the ball into the edge of the net.
It's true. I feel like I have 5 or 6 seconds to think about what to do, Iniesta also said. In fact, this action is only two steps, which is very fast. Then, I saw the ball go into ......
Absolutely!It was the fastest moment of my life, if they measured my speed (laughs) ......It's an outburst, a kind of ecstasy. I remember saying to myself, "Rodri, we have 20 minutes left," and "Rodri, it's not over yet." ”
I understand what football is all about. Sometimes what you do on the pitch is not valued, but what is valued is that you score a goal. Yes, I noticed that in Spain the rating of my level went up, but the goal definitely pushed everything. There is also the achievements of the national team in the UEFA Nations League.
We have been dreaming of this championship for many years, but we always hit a wall and we can't always go further.
When you achieve something like this, your heart will open and you will speak your feelings, and Guardiola infected me with the emotions of the time. "We've finally made it ......," he told me'I remember we lifted the Champions League trophy and he was still explaining to me about the game, why we did a good job and why we didn't find a third man to catch ......I told him, "Coach, let's enjoy it, let's celebrate!".There's still time for next year!"He's a coach who cares about people. Winning the UEFA Champions League is what we deserve.
It's a mutual issue and I've always praised him for what he has given me and he has also said that he has been nourished by the great players in his squad. He met epoch-making players at the best clubs, and that was the key to success: a symbiotic relationship between players and coaches, and that's what we do.
In football, flattery weakens you. When it comes to Manchester City, we are a strong team ......He saw what people couldn't see: the possible relaxation, how difficult it is to win when you've won a lot of games, how small the gap is in the Premier League. At this level, you always want to be at your best. That's where he cares about the team with these corrections, these are the subtleties of the coach.
Pep Guardiola has recently said to me that when the team is comfortable and has an advantage, he is happy, not just the result. We've found the best way for the team to stand and the players feel comfortable on the pitch. It's like trying the pinnacle of a different tactical system: full-backs move inward, three backs, play wide ......
His sense of smell and greed have not changed, but those who knew him before will now know that he is different in taking up space and knowing what to do. At the beginning I noticed that he was very anxious, he understood that we are a different team and there is a lot of maturity in possession, he knows that he will not be involved so much and he has to wait for his moment to shoot. These are all things that a person has to adapt to and learn. Now I see that he is much more positive. He told me: "Rodri, control the game, control the game, leave me alone. 'It's about understanding the team. In addition, he has improved a lot in receiving the ball, releasing pressure and opening up space ......
When I faced Norway, his personality didn't scare me since I knew him, what scared me was his ability. Let's not forget that he was a boy of age and had a concern appropriate to his age. He's just like we did when we first started: laughing and joking all day, but definitely not the kind of character that seems serious. He is very kind, very nice and willing to talk about anything......And his desire to develop his body and improve himself reminds me of Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi.
We've matured a lot as a club, as a team. We have those who are not only good at football, but also in terms of atmosphere, and that shows on the pitch. When a player clears on the goal line, three or four teammates go to applaud ......These are the details. When you lose, there are doubts, and in those moments you see that there is a team and we have managed to build a family.
People only understand 5% of what we go through together, and we joke all day long. Of course, there will be quarrels ...... the right time
Interestingly, I don't consider myself young or old. Within the team I am the captain and I am willing to give advice, not only to the youngsters, but also to the newcomers. There's a lot of ups and downs in the Premier League and we have to be very united.
You're always trying to grow. When I was in my first year with the team, my goal was not to get into the box, but to adapt and do what I knew. When you have that background and you get to know the team, you learn new things. I spent two years at Villarreal and then a short time at Atletico Madrid for ......Ultimately, playing on the same team for three or four years allows you to improve in different areas. I found that I could improve there. No one asks you to get to the opponent's penalty area, but if you do, you raise the level.
Since I came to England, I have gained ten kilos, it is necessary and your body will adapt. We have nutritionists who are suitable for leagues that require more strength, and muscles are formed by the number of games and strength. Now I see a change in Aston Villabao Torres. At Villarreal he was as thin as I was, but now he's starting to gain weight and obviously he's adapted to the Premier League.
Well, what a big scare. They have never been so restrictive to me, luckily everything is fine.
Unparalleled. At club and national team level, everything I dreamed of came true: a five-time title at Manchester City and a UEFA Nations League ...... with the Spanish national teamIt's been a perfect year. Not only at the collective level, but also at the individual level.
Yes, it's a pride. Individual awards don't depend on you, they depend on what you can achieve on the pitch. Be one of the top five and be on a par with ...... themThis is already commendable. What I am most proud of is being one of the 30 finalists representing my country. Hopefully there will be more people like me in the future, which means we're doing well.
I remember a lot of things, a lot of things that exude charm there. We all know how the French prepare for these events, they are famous, and it is an unforgettable experience of socializing with influential people from all walks of life. And for me, the most important thing is that we are one of the 30 best players.
On a personality level, apparently not. I'm a calmer person and I'm not used to this kind of thing. But as a footballer, it makes you praise what you do. You'll be socializing with people from Madrid, Paris, ......It's good, I remember a lot of interesting things.
As they say, I was the first among mortals and now football is at a very high level. Argentina won the World Cup, which is why Messi deserved to win the Ballon d'Or. Players like Mbappe or Haaland, they can score 40 or 50 goals.
A lot of people call me **. When you attend an evening like this, your influence increases 100 times. People were surprised, and so was I. Luckily, I have a very ordinary environment around me that allows me to see things in my own way. Obviously you want to enjoy the moment, but the most important thing is that I pay attention to the people who are with me every day. Maybe someone will write to me once, but I prefer the people who are with me every day.
I've been keeping a lot of eyes on players like Bruno Soriano, Sergio Busquets, Marcos Senna and Xavi Alonso. But football is improving. The way these footballers used to play was different from the way they play now. I'm going to try to be the player I want to be, but more on fitness and the ability I need in the Premier League.
Spain have always produced good midfielders, but I would say Subimendi. He's a charming lad with a desire to improve and Real Sociedad is doing well. In Spain, we have been doing well in this position. In fact, it's the best part of us on the pitch.
I'm already in the planning and I'm very excited. The UEFA Nations League is very important to prove that the team can win the game. We know we're not the favourites and we've lost big games in the past. That's why we have to be humble that we have the opportunity and the ability, but we have to do more than everyone else. That's what I want to instill in my teammates: you have to play almost like a team, work harder than everyone else, be more united than everyone else, and that's the way to win a championship. It's not just that I'm great, it's that I'm great, and I'm going to work as hard as a worker.
There is hardly time to catch your breath during the season. The Premier League demands that you play every day, you don't get room to relax, the title race is very small, we will have to sacrifice, take risks and trust the team, there are very few breaks in football nowadays.
I think they should act quickly. Although the body is used to competition, it has a limit. Now we're seeing the number of injuries and it's not good for the game. The more rest a player's body gets, the better it is for the game.
Yes, the day of the injury was very tough. Gavi is a very lovable lad and he has a very unique personality. Sometimes he gets criticized for it, but I personally like it. He enjoys playing football and is purely dedicated to his goals. He needs to improve on a few things, but I like his way. Football was very cruel to him and during that time we kept telling him that he was still young and that it would make him stronger. We've been trying to convince him that he's going to be who he used to be again. Today, you can come out of these injuries. We have a way to tell him not to rush. It's a big hit.
I'm in the middle of my career. I hope to continue to win and improve. I'm not satisfied, there's still a lot of room for improvement. I hope to replicate City's results. Haaland said: If we do it once, we can do it again. Then there's the Euros, I'm at the best moment of maturity and we can do something important.
Happy New Year to all!