“Kings of the Champions League.” Man City Rodri makes ‘crazy’ admission ahead of the next Liverpool vs Man City encounter`

“Kings of the Champions League.” Man City Rodri makes ‘crazy’ admission ahead of the next Liverpool vs Man City encounter`

Rodri feels his Manchester City team will face a “big task” when they meet Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-finals tomorrow afternoon, and he has questioned the scheduling of his club’s games.

After drawing with Liverpool in the Premier League at the Etihad, City advanced to the Champions League semi-finals with a 1-0 aggregate triumph over Atletico Madrid. 

On Wednesday night, the second leg at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium ended in a stalemate.

Rodri feels City shown mental toughness in Madrid, as Pep Guardiola’s side survived a grueling quarter-final encounter to go to the final four against Real Madrid.

City, on the other hand, may be forced to calculate the cost after Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker were knocked out during Wednesday’s brutal game.

“It’s a giant step for us as a team and as a club being in the second semi-final in a row,” Rodri said. “We have a lot of games on our shoulders and obviously that also takes its toll. It’s going to be a great semi-final. We are facing the kings of the Champions League.

“Before that, though, we need to rest and prepare for the FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool. It will be another huge challenge. We have a few games we need to focus on first before thinking about Real Madrid.”

Before the Spain international counted: “I am very proud because firstly we did a great two games with a very tough opponent. We competed until the end. Of course they have weapons in this stadium, I know them very well. They pushed until the end and we suffered in some minutes, but that’s normal. Sometimes (people) think we are always going to play beautiful but it is not like this.

“Other teams have good players and they punish you. But we were good – an unbelievable competitive mentality and we go through. I think we’ve grown a lot in this sense in the last years.

“We need to keep on improving because we are going to live moments like this in the next games. We need to be strong mentality and together and never give up.

“That is the way. We expect another tough team next with another way of playing but we will think about it when we face them. Let’s think about Liverpool first. The calendar is crazy. We’ve had these two games against Atletico, the other day against Liverpool.

“You have to work 100 percent and now we have Liverpool again – too many difficult games at the same time but it is what it is. We have to refresh our minds, recover and give the best shape in the next game.”

ALSO READ:

• Bizarre new rule set to hit long-throw specialists next season as football chiefs try to get play started
• Manchester United News – Red Devils Edging Closer to First Major Transfer Deal as Ten Hag and Glazer Owners Clash Looms
•  Jorginho’s Arsenal future under threat as £12m signing ‘offered reunion with former boss’ in shock transfer
•  Liverpool News: Alexis Mac Allister Transfer Sealed, Plus Another Reds Deal Confirmed
• Declan Rice has already played his last game for club as exit confirmed by West Ham owners
• Man Utd flop makes XI Saudi team of the season as Cristiano Ronaldo brutally snubbed
• David Beckham’s Inter Miami eye move for Man Utd flop to join Lionel Messi

“Kings of the Champions League.” Man City Rodri makes ‘crazy’ admission ahead of the next Liverpool vs Man City encounter`