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Manchester City star gives Newcastle United amusing backhanded compliment ahead of match

4 years ago
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Rodri became Manchester City’s record signing this summer.

The Spanish international midfielder arriving in July for £63m from Atletico Madrid.

Rodri has started 10 Premier League games so far and says he has quickly learned one thing, that it is possible for any team to beat another on any given day.

To prove the point, he refers to the games he started against top of the table Liverpool and strugglers Norwich, both away defeats for the back to back PL champions. He also started the 2-0 Premier League home defeat to Wolves and with a 2-2 draw against Spurs also, a record of six wins, one draw and three defeats isn’t maybe what he was expecting when joining a team who only dropped 16 points in the whole of last season.

However, form is temporary and class is permanent and with Man City having so many good players, it is all but inevitable that they will once again get in the groove and put together a crushing run of form.

Rodri says he is expecting ‘a tough game’ at St James Park and gives a bit of a backhanded compliment.

The Man City midfielder saying about Newcastle United: ‘They are so strong; they are one of those very English teams…’

I would love to hear him expand on that, as to what a ‘very English team’ is, I’m assuming he hasn’t been shown footage of the Kevin Keegan entertainers of the 90s and that is his reference point!

Maybe though he has been shown what has happened at SJP in recent years, under Rafa Benitez Newcastle’s results at home to Man City were 1-1, 0-1 and 2-1.

That 2-1 in January was of course the last time Manchester City failed to win a game in domestic football before Rodri’s arrival, winning all remaining 14 PL games last season, as well as lifting the League Cup and FA Cup.

Rodri speaking to official club site:

“I think it is going to be a tough game (at St James Park).

“They (Newcastle United) are so strong; they are one of those very English teams, so we are going to do our best.

“We obviously need three points to stay in touch with the leaders and we don’t need to see that they beat United to know that they are a good team.

“One thing I have quickly learned is that all the teams in the Premier League can beat you.

“We lost against Norwich who are at the bottom of the table and we lost against the leaders, so everyone can beat you and that is the good thing about this league.

“Football is growing and that means more matches.

“Maybe Christmas is about being with the family but it is okay.

“We are footballers, we enjoy playing football, so we are going to work hard to win all the games because it is one of the most important parts of the season.

“The fans enjoy the festive period, which is the good thing because they pay tickets to come and watch us, so it is good for us!

“I haven’t won any of the trophies we are competing for, so my preference is to win all the trophies!

“Winning the Premier League would be amazing and winning the Champions League would be amazing, as would the Carabao and FA Cup.

“We are going to fight until the end and for me individually, it is a dream fighting for all these trophies so I will give all my best because our fans deserve it.”

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