With the UEFA Champions League final at the Artartuk stadium in Turkey getting closer, Manchester City midfielder Rodri says that winning the UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE is very important.
This is coming just less than 24 hours after Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola stated that they have to win the Champions League to be recognized how the team deserves to be.
Manchester City defeated City rivals Manchester United on Saturday to win the FA Cup and complete a domestic double the team still stands a chance to become the second team since Manchester United in the 1998/1999 season to win the treble if they can beat Inter Milan on Saturday.
Rodri, who has played 50 games in all competitions this season and with three goals and six assists in 36 Premier League games, reiterated Guardiola’s stance about winning the competition.
“Pep said you will not be ‘big, big’ if you don’t win in Europe. It’s the exam we have to pass again. It’s another final, and we are ready. I’m going to push the guys to be ourselves, be confident, try our best, and fight for the final. We have not been focusing on it too much, but of course, it is there, something we dream about; Inter is a tough team, with five at the back. They are in the final too.” Rodri said.
While Guardiola has won two UEFA Champions League titles with Barcelona, he is yet to win since leaving the La Liga club. Despite winning five Premier League titles with Manchester City since joining the club, he is still searching for a UEFA Champions League trophy.
If City beats Inter Milan on Saturday, Pep will be the first manager to do the treble with two different sides after winning the trouble with Bundesliga side Bayern Munich in 2012, although he didn’t win the UEFA Champions League.
Daniel Ademiju Idowu