Pep And Diego Simeone Have Helped Me Grow As A Footballer – Rodri

Manchester City midfielder, Rodri has said he feels lucky to play under managers like Pep Guardiola and Diego Simeone.

According to him, both managers are opposites even if they are one of the best coaches to play under as a footballer.

He added that they both look at football differently but they are both winners.

His words, “Simeone and Guardiola are two opposites.

“To be just 23 and to have had two of the best coaches of this era work with you, it has helped me to grow a lot, in the defensive phase and in the offensive.

“We know that each of them has a different way of watching football, but they are both winners, they work 24 hours a day to improve the players … both are very good. Simeone is consistency and perseverance. Guardiola is innovative, growing day by day.”

“City is an exciting project, one of the biggest clubs in Europe.

“It is a dream to be here at an individual level, a challenge to grow as a player and a new experience in a new league like the Premier League, which has a great impact on a global stage. I’m really happy.”

On his role models, “[Zinedine] Zidane was an idol when I was little, but it is true that given my characteristics, I do not have the profile of Zidane. He played from three-quarters forward, with more imagination and less responsibility.

“In my place on the field, I have more responsibility. I look at Xabi Alonso, [Sergio] Busquets, players who have been a great example of how to improve.”

On the challenge before City this season, “On an individual basis I can say that Liverpool are the best team I have faced,”

“They dominate at both ends of the field, they are very aggressive. They dominate the lines well and that makes them a fearsome team. They are very good, but anyone can beat him so we are going to fight until the end.

“I don’t know if the goal is to beat Liverpool, who are European champions, as I think you always have to focus on yourself.

“If we focus on Liverpool too much we are wrong. We would better looking at ourselves and play as we did at Atleti under Simeone, game by game. You can’t stop competing and that’s what Guardiola instils in us every day, that every game is a final.”