On the eve of the upcoming crucial home match against Inter Milan in the first phase of the Champions League, Manchester City midfield general Rodrigo Rodriguez gave an exclusive interview to TNT Sports, not only recalling his personal and team's glorious moments, but also expressing his expectation for the Golden Ball Award and his outlook for the coming matches.
Golden Globe expectations: national honor over individual awards
Speaking about winning the tournament's best player at this summer's Euros and being the favorite for the Ballon d'Or, Rodri humbly said, "It's an honor for my career to be able to hold the trophy together with these outstanding players. The fact that people are recognizing my performance and talent is already a victory for me. While individual awards are a recognition of effort, I value the honor it brings to my country. Spanish soccer is full of historic players and our success is a great inspiration not only for me personally, but for every Spanish player and the country as a whole."
The unique appeal of the back position
Asked how he has managed to shine in a position that has traditionally been more "behind the scenes", Rodriguez showed his deep understanding of soccer: "In my opinion, the beauty of soccer is multidimensional, whether it's a midfielder, a central defender, a goalkeeper, or a striker, they all have something unique to offer. Nowadays, people are beginning to appreciate and recognize my contribution at the back, which is very gratifying. Of course, I hope to continue to improve my performances and win more honors not only for myself but also for Spanish soccer."
Memorable moments from the Champions League final
Recalling the moment he scored the winning goal against Inter in last year's UEFA Champions League final, Rodriguez still can't hide his excitement: "I've watched that game over and over again, especially the footage of the goal. At that moment, my dream came true, and it will always be engraved in my memory and become the pride of my life. It was a tough game, but it was all the hard work and perseverance over the years that allowed me to come through in the clutch."
Drawing Strength from Failure
Regarding the regrettable experience of the 2021 Champions League final against Chelsea, Rodriguez took a more mature and rational attitude: "Failure is part of growing up, no one wants to experience failure, but it is these experiences that allow us to learn more. The final was painful for us, but it also laid the foundation for the success we've had since then. We learned from it and became even more determined to win. Now we have the experience of two finals and know how to prepare ourselves for victory."
In the face of the upcoming battle with Inter, Rodri and his Manchester City teammates are undoubtedly well prepared. They know that the road to the Champions League is full of challenges, but as Rodri said, "There is only one winner, but we will give it our all, for the team, for the country, and for the love and dream in our hearts."
