Rodri has admitted that Manchester City need a certain figure at their “best” ahead of their encounter with Real Madrid.
City especially need their biggest names to unleash the best version of themselves to take down Carlo Ancelotti’s side in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final.
Antonio Rudiger has revealed that he will take it upon himself to tame Erling Haaland once again at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Haaland would be equally determined to give Rudiger a run for his money after the German managed to tame him in the first leg last season.
Manchester City would certainly need their number nine to be in a mood to kill.
The same goes for Kevin De Bruyne, who is also one of the best performers when it comes to the Champions League in the world.
Season after season, De Bruyne finds a way to deliver in Europe’s elite competition and he might be fired up to perform once again as he might not have many years left at the elite level at 32 years of age.
Rodri says Man City man must be at his “best” ahead of Real Madrid clash
Similarly, the potential prince to the Belgian’s throne, Phil Foden would also be willing to send a statement on a big Champions League night that he is most certainly one of the best players in the world.
In the past, Foden has performed in Europe, more often than not.
Just two seasons ago, the 23-year-old scored against Real Madrid and he will be hoping to do the same and more this time around.
Jack Grealish also recently admitted that at 28 years of age, he might not have many more years left of playing in the Champions League.
Being aware of such a reality should push Grealish to put in a cracking display on Tuesday, as he especially did during the second leg at the Etihad Stadium last season.
However, Rodri has expressed the need for Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola to be at his brilliant best ahead of his side’s much-awaited clash against Real Madrid.
“And what I can say about my manager, he’s our leader in this sense and tomorrow, like always, we need the best of him to build up the team in terms of speech, in terms of tactics, in terms of positive energy for us, he’s of course very, very important and every year, he never goes down, the importance of this manager for us”, Rodri said [via BeanymanSports].
Pep Guardiola will be relishing the heavyweight Champions League battle
Rodri will be aware that Pep Guardiola will be relishing the chance to show that his Manchester City side can beat Real Madrid.
Managers of Guardiola’s ilk are seemingly determined to compete at the highest level season after season due to their love for such high-stakes showdowns.
The £378,846-a-week man does not seem to be worn out by the highs and lows that come with managing at the elite level, especially when it comes to the Champions League.
Much like Rodri and the rest of his players, Pep Guardiola also has a chance of further solidifying his legacy by masterminding a victory over a fellow Champions League great like Carlo Ancelotti.
The prospect of doing so must excite Guardiola, in our view.