On the eve of Manchester City's crucial home game against Inter Milan in the first round of the Champions League stage, the heart of the team, Rodrigo Rodriguez, attended a press conference to share his expectations for the game, his thoughts on the Ballon d'Or candidacy, and his assessment of Inter's strengths.
Talking about the last meeting with Inter - the winning goal in the 2023 Champions League final - Rodri laughed and said that he had watched the goal clip thousands of times, but the whole match footage had only been reviewed once or twice. He emphasized that while that game left fond memories, the journey of soccer continues and City need to focus on the new campaign to get off to the best possible start.
Rodriguez said he was both honored and surprised to be included in the 30-man shortlist for the Ballon d'Or and to be one of the frontrunners. He appreciates what he has achieved over the last few years, including the title with Manchester City and the Europa League with his national team, as a result of hard work, perseverance and never giving up. At the same time, he recognizes that his role on the pitch is different, but the beauty of soccer lies in its diversity, and midfielders can earn respect and appreciation as well.
Talking about the upcoming match against Inter, Rodrigo spoke highly of them. He pointed out that Inter won the title early in Serie A last season and remained undefeated this season, thanks to their strong lineup and solid defense. In particular, the outstanding performance of players such as Lautaro, Barella and Çalhanoglu made Inter a difficult team to deal with. However, Rodriguez also expressed his confidence in City, believing that it will be an exciting matchup.
On the transfer rumors, Rodri appeared very calm and focused. He said he has a contract with Manchester City and plans to finish his work here. He did not respond too much to the offers from other teams, but only emphasized his professional attitude and loyalty to Manchester City.
Finally, Rodney also spoke about the challenges of an intensive schedule. He confessed that maintaining his best form during the consecutive high-intensity matches is a daunting task.
