By Willow Austin
Published on 2024-04-08 12:36:54
Real Madrid will host the European and World Champions at home for the third consecutive season and Rodrygo admits they don’t want to play against Man City in the UEFA Champions League this campaign.
Both European giants have delivered at the highest level of the competition in recent years. Rodrygo was Real Madrid’s saviour in the 2021-22 season as he delivered a masterclass performance to eliminate Pep Guardiola’s side in the last four of the competition.
The Brazilian surprised the football world with his goals in the stoppage time at a time when many people believed the Cityzens had overcome their opponents. Real Madrid went on to win the title but Pep Guardiola got a deserving revenge the following season.
Manchester City humiliated Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium last season after securing a 1-1 draw away. The Cityzens also went on to win the title for the first time in their history. This signifies how both teams have become a dominant force in the competition in recent years.
However, they will have to face each other in this campaign and unlike the previous ones, it will come in the last 8 of the competition.
Meanwhile, Rodrygo admitted that they don’t want to face the Cityzens, at least not yet, stressing that everyone expected such a match to be in the final. He said he believes that Man City players wouldn’t also like to face them, therefore, both teams have much respect for each other.
“It brings back good memories but also bad ones,” Rodrygo said, as per The Guardian.
“This was an opponent that, to be honest, we didn’t want to face. And they think the same as well: they didn’t want to play against us. It’s a game that everyone expects to be the final, but it’s going to be now. Man City are very good, but our team is also very strong. It’s going to be good to meet them again.”
Asked whether Manchester City are the best team in the world, Rodrygo said yes, stressing that Pep Guardiola’s side sit at the top of the best club in the world but Real Madrid are also a very strong team.
“Without a doubt,” he said. “They’re the Champions League winners, they’re the world champions, today they’re the best team in the world, so we have total respect for them.
“There are no bad or medium [City] players. There’s no player you can think of like: ‘This one I’m going to press because he isn’t good and he will give us a goal or a great chance.’ They have very good control of the game and of the ball. It’s a very beautiful game, a very difficult team. It’s very annoying to play against them but I believe in our team.”
