ONE FINAL EXAM FOR CITY SCHOLARS
Pep’s men may be top of the class in England but Rodri insists Sky Blues won’t become immortals until they conquer Europe
MANCHESTER CITY have been top of the class this season – but midfielder Rodri admitted they have “one more exam to pass” to achieve true greatness.
Victory over Inter Milan in the Champions League final on Saturday will clinch the Treble for Pep Guardiola’s side and confirm their status as immortals.
Despite City’s domestic dominance, Guardiola has admitted they cannot be considered a truly great side until they have conquered Europe – a view echoed by Rodri after their FA Cup triumph.
“Pep said you will not be ‘big, big’ if you don’t win in Europe,” said Rodri. “It’s the exam we have to pass again. It’s another final and we’re ready, that’s all I can say. Be confident, be ourselves and try our best to fight for the final.
“Now we can focus on the last game, the last title. It’s there [the Treble], it’s something we dream about, but we have to prepare against a tough Italian team.
“The conviction is there, always. When you win, the confidence gets better, but we’ve been working well to arrive here.
“We have the confidence, but we have to put in all the effort on the pitch. One game left and it’s a final.”
City have come close to European glory in recent years – most notably losing in the final to Chelsea two years ago – but have fallen short when it mattered in the Champions League. But there is a new-found belief and assurance about the Double winners suggesting they are destined finally to end their European agony on Saturday and take their place in history.
For Rodri, the disappointment of past failures in the competition has been an essential part of the club’s European journey, to the point where they feel they are ready to reach the mountain top.
The manner of City’s ruthless 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid in the semi-final – a year after their frustrating exit to them at the same stage – suggested Guardiola’s men have finally come of age in Europe.
“We try to learn a lot from the past,” said Rodri.
“It’s something you learn and I think the desire – how we played Real Madrid, for example, with defeat there last year.
“To win you have to have lost before and to have a winning mentality in the Champions League you have to have been there, in the semi-finals and touch the finals.
“That’s the good point of this team. The last six or seven years, we’ve been touching the semi-finals and finals. It’s the only way to achieve and to win.
“We’re on that road and hopefully working hard, because the team wants it.
“The experience is a very good point. Also, the players who came in made a massive impact to give us extra every year.
“You learn as a group. We try to innovate and push ourselves to the maximum every time.”
While other players have higher profiles and take the plaudits, such as 52-goal Erling Haaland and playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri has been one of the team’s key figures this season.
His commanding presence and authority in midfield allows City’s attackers to flourish, with the 26-yearold, signed from Atletico Madrid for £62million four years ago, in the best form of his career.
“I feel in the best moment, physically, mentally and the way I understand the game,” said Rodri. “It’s my fourth year and there are lots of lessons – when you win, lose, finals, everything you can learn from. I feel more mature in these situations.”