Rodri has expressed Manchester City's unyielding hunger for victory across all competitions as they gear up to take on Spanish opponents Sevilla in the upcoming UEFA Super Cup match in Athens.
City, who secured a treble last season, faced a setback in the Community Shield against Arsenal. However, their opportunity to secure their first trophy this season presents itself on Wednesday.
Rodri, the Spain midfielder, emphasised the importance of approaching the final with the same fervour they exhibited in their recent championship matches, stating as the Mail reported: "We have to arrive with desire like we did in our last finals. In the last finals, we showed the level of hunger."
Regrettably, City will be missing Kevin de Bruyne due to a hamstring injury that could keep him sidelined for up to four months. The decision on whether the 32-year-old will undergo surgery will be made in the upcoming days.
Furthermore, Portugal defender Ruben Dias is unavailable due to a head injury sustained during training and will adhere to the concussion protocol for a week. Meanwhile, England centre-back John Stones is also absent due to a hip injury but might return for the Premier League match against Newcastle United on Sunday.
The Super Cup final, which features seven-time Europa League winners Sevilla, is set to commence at 20:00 BST. This annual fixture pits the holders of the Champions League against the holders of the Europa League at a neutral venue.
Notably, Rodri secured City's victory against Inter Milan with the only goal in their quest for the Champions League title, which concluded successfully two months ago. Following their Community Shield loss, City's defense of the Premier League title began with a comfortable win against Burnley.
Rodri drew attention to their resilience against Burnley, highlighting their hunger. He expressed his intention to rally the team similarly for the upcoming final, stressing its challenging nature. He stated on Tuesday: "Tomorrow (on Wednesday) I will ask my team to do the same. Tomorrow (on Wednesday) is a final - it is tough. We are always hungry and want to win every trophy. We were very disappointed when we lost to Arsenal."
During the previous season, City's dominance resulted in them clinching their third consecutive league title, as well as the FA Cup and Champions League. Looking ahead, Rodri expressed optimism about possibly breaking records this year. He remarked: "This year we can break some records...Winning four leagues in a row would be massive. Every final, every title is important."
The Super Cup is particularly significant for Rodri, marking the first trophy he won as a player. He recognised the chance to elevate City's status in European football, asserting: "We have another chance to put City on the European map again."
Sevilla, on the other hand, is striving to avoid a sixth consecutive defeat in the Super Cup. Manager Jose Luis Mendilibar remains confident in his team's ability to create an upset, saying: "I think we are ready to beat them tomorrow, so I'm convinced that we are going to be audacious...We're going to try and play our football tomorrow and, in that respect, I think we're going to try and complicate their lives tomorrow. From then on, we'll see what happens."
Comments