Rodri revealed his references to Barcelona

Rodrigo Hernández Cascante, known as Rodri, had the best season of his career at 27 years old. A key player in the Manchester City team that won the Champions League, the midfielder spoke to COPE about the inspiring aspects of his career as a footballer. During the interview, the Spanish international was surprised to reveal, without it being mentioned to him, that most of his references for “being a better player” were FC Barcelona icons at various stages. MD examines what Rodri said in the interview about those influences on its evolution until it became one of the best media outlets in the world.

HONEY AND PIQUÉ

“My agent prepared his videos for me in Qatar”

“I’m not surprised to be a center back in the World Cup. I know that the pivot position is very expensive. There was an opportunity to play in a World Cup. Between being a left back or not playing, I prefer to be a winger. I know I can play as a center back; but to be central in a World Cup is a big word. In a very short time I had to put together a lot of concepts. We took cuts from the World Cup in South Africa of Puyol and Piqué. The my agent scouted for me. In the pivot you intervene in all areas of the field and when “If you move to another position, you realize that not all positions intervene. I came from handling 100 balls a game in all positions.”

2

SERGIO BUSQUETS

“I came from handling 100 balls in a game in all positions. I lived with a player like Busquets, I was a player next to him and I know he struggled. I didn’t know Busquets and I saw that he did that . like me, I played at the beginning with my shirt tucked in… I want to be better than Busquets. I want to be better than him, and you’re talking about the best pivot of all time. Everything that comes is going to be good. And getting closer is good… “.

3

PEP GUARDIOLA

“It took me to a level I didn’t know”

“In the finals of the Champions League I didn’t find the fluidity that I usually see and this is my first final. In the half-time talk Guardiola told the team that ‘I don’t know what is wrong with us, even Rodri is not well ‘ . I didn’t understand. I expected at that moment. Another player might have lost confidence and I had to confirm that I was not right and I came out with a completely different mentality. In the second half the team grew, I grew and “I scored the goal; that speaks of psychology and the mentality. I see Guardiola as crazy all day long. He is the most influential coach in my career. He raised me to a level I didn’t know I could reach. When you get it before with him, I say ‘why don’t they do this’, I find everything easier. He gives you a toolbox and you have more tools than others. I highlight the ability that a person has to use better spaces by moving less. There are some players that Pep didn’t bring to the top.”

4

LEO MESSI

“The Ballon d’Or will go to a Leo Messi”

“Me, Ballon d’Or? I know that the individual awards are an award with a lot of marketing. Next to the monsters I’m with, of course I lack marketing, like Xavi and Iniesta. I’m worried about those something I can control and that is the collective awards. I think a certain Leo Messi is going to win it. Haaland is also a very great figure and has his merits.”