Rodri wears an FA Cup winner’s medal around his neck, which is framed by the lettering on his dark Manchester City T-shirt: Cup Winners on June 3, 2023. “Rulers of the City”
It is Saturday evening at Wembley, and what most people – not just the City kit men – had predicted has occurred. City has defeated Manchester United to complete the league and cup double. Rodri was once again dominant in the midfield and the form of his life. It is a sensational accomplishment that nobody has taken the time to adequately acknowledge.
This is because City is not yet complete. They are the kings of England for the fifth time in six seasons, and their fans relished letting everyone know after the Cup final that Manchester was blue. But their destination, the final leg of their voyage, is what holds them captive.
“I believe Pep [Guardiola] said you won’t be ‘Big, big’ if you don’t win in Europe,” Rodri says in anticipation of Saturday’s Champions League final in Istanbul against Internazionale. This is the test we must pass.
For City, the Champions League is paramount. It has been throughout the entire season, and, to be honest, for many seasons. Guardiola has won 11 major trophies in England with City, in addition to two Community Shields. Guardiola’s domestic dominance is a beautiful phenomenon. But if the manager has known for a long time that he must win in Europe’s elite competition to elevate his legacy to the highest level, the fact that he is now willing to state so is revealing. It demonstrates confidence.
Guardiola and his players are prepared. They have gained fortitude from their near-misses in the Champions League, especially the 2021 final loss to Chelsea. Before the first leg of this season’s quarterfinal against Bayern Munich, Rben Dias had philosophically contemplated the situation. “As a very wise man told me, ‘We didn’t lose the championship. “We’re just one step closer [to winning],” the midfielder said.
Rodri bows. “I would say the same,” he asserts. “I believe that to succeed, you must have previously lost. To possess a successful mentality in the Champions League, a team must reach the semifinals and finals. This is the strength of this crew. Over the past six or seven years, we have reached the semifinals and championship games. It is the only path to success and achievement. We are on this route. This year, the team’s effort was phenomenal. We can prevail”
The city’s strength derives in part from its reserves. Guardiola has relied on 21 players since the end of January, so they do not have the deepest roster, but nobody can rival their quality. Comparing their bench to United’s bench at Wembley was undoubtedly a terrifying endeavor.
Last July, when City acquired Kalvin Phillips from Leeds for £42 million, they acquired a world-class holding midfielder and one of England’s best players. There has been a great deal of focus on Phillips’ struggles this season, but there is a significant reason why he has been so marginal: Rodri.
Guardiola has started the Spain international 34 times in the league and 10 of the club’s 12 Champions League contests, including every knockout match. Rodri has responded to the threat posed by Phillips by suffocating it, which is consistent with how the team treats its opponents.
Has Rodri ever played better? “In my opinion, no,” he says. “Physically, mentally, in terms of how I comprehend the game and how I contribute to the squad, I am in my best state. I always try to assist my teammates, but I also try to improve with each game and learn from the past.
Rodri cannot disregard the past, nor does he wish to. Before the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, he reflected on City’s devastating loss to Real Madrid in the previous season’s competition. He stated that revenge was a motivation. The city would acquire it.
“This is my fourth year in England, and when we win, when we lose, in finals… you can learn from everything,” says Rodri. “I feel more mature in these circumstances. Is the 2021 exam instructive? As I’ve stated, we attempt to learn a great deal from the past.
“I believe the desire… how we played Real Madrid after losing to them last year, for example. Therefore, we will continue to play in the same manner, attempting to resolve the situation, recover from it, and win the final.”
Rodri, like Guardiola, emphasizes concentration and meekness, game by game. Now, however, only a single game or title remains. “Of course, it [the treble] is there,” he states. “This is something we fantasize about. We will prepare for the game as if it were a final against an Italian team that plays with five defenders… so, so difficult and always demanding.
“We must have confidence in ourselves, but we cannot be complacent. What is required of us on the pitch is running and exertion. Then the football arrives.”
