RODRI’S ROCKET IS A REAL SCREENER
RODRI admitted he had to do a big-screen double-take to check he had scored one of the goals of the season. The midfielder made it 2-0 to Manchester City with a screamer from more than 20 yards out.
And he could still not quite believe it long after the dust had settled on this routine win over Everton. “It was … a beauty,” said the Spain international. “It is the feeling, imagine the strikers scoring 20 goals! “I score two or three and I’m the happiest man. “It’s an incredible feeling. I was actually watching the screen to realise the goal I scored.” Rodri’s rare strike came after Raheem Sterling had opened the scoring just before half-time. And although Pep Guardiola saluted Sterling’s performance, he gave the England man a subtle warning.
“Since I arrived he’s been a key player for us. He needed that today,” said the City boss. ”He scored a brilliant goal and made a good game in a difficult one. I am happy for him.
“He has to perform like he performed today.”
That was clearly a reminder to Sterling that he still faces a tough battle to regain a regular starting place in the first-choice team.
With Kevin de Bruyne absent because of Covid, Sterling could also start Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain.
It is unlikely Cole Palmer and James McAtee will feature in that game but both the 19-year-old midfielders had landmark days against Everton. Palmer started his first Premier League match, while McAtee came off the bench for his first top-flight appearance.
And Guardiola was full of praise, saying: “They both did well. We have a good generation of young players and we will not be shy to use them.”
In contrast, Everton have been hit by injury and manager Rafa Benitez was already short of options before Richarlison’s booking ruled him out of the game at Brentford on Sunday.
“When you lose players for yellow cards, it’s even worse,” said Benitez (above), who had no complaints about the result – Bernardo Silva scored City’s third – and also saw Demarai Gray go off injured early in the contest.
“We now have to manage with the players available.”