Rodri on Ballon D'or and Inter Milan
17/09/2024
CFGA, Manchester, UK
17/09/2024
CFGA, Manchester, UK
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Hello, guys, same process again, questions in English first, please,
00:09and then from Italian media after that.
00:11We'll start with Simon again.
00:15Hi, Rodri, OK, just on a personal level,
00:20it's only a matter of months since you won the Euros with Spain,
00:25a year after winning the Champions League with Man City,
00:28scoring the winning goal, you've been nominated for Ballon d'Or,
00:32but you are regarded as one of the favourites.
00:35You're not a striker in the way that most of the winners are.
00:39What does that make you feel about how you've played
00:42and do you hope to win, I suppose?
00:46Well, to be honest, I'm very, very happy for everything that happened to me
00:54in the last years, I mean, winning what we won in the last summer Euros
00:58with my country is just a dream.
01:02And, yeah, it's the consequences of the work hard and the consistency
01:07and never give up, you know, and this kind of thing.
01:10So I always say that individual awards are just the consequences of the work.
01:14I really feel right now that the people are recognising my work
01:20and trying to push me to win it or whatever.
01:24It's not something I think, to be honest.
01:27Yeah, it would be a dream, of course, because I never thought
01:30I could arrive to this stage, to this moment.
01:33But in the same hand, in the other hand, I mean, once you arrive here,
01:37you just want to, you know, people say what they think, vote, and that's it.
01:42I will accept whatever it is.
01:44And as you said, the things of the position,
01:47yeah, I know I play a different role than the most players
01:51that are nominated in these trophies, I know,
01:53but it also shows that football can be beautiful in different views, you know.
01:59You can be beautiful playing as a midfielder or scoring goals
02:01or being a defender, you know.
02:03We all know how football works.
02:06But, yeah, I think there's lots of people that really appreciate
02:09the role of the midfielder, so let's see what happens.
02:13Hiya, Rodri.
02:14There's been quite a lot of talk about the amount of games
02:17that players are playing at the moment with the expanded Champions League.
02:21Obviously, you've got the Club World Cup next summer.
02:23In your mind, because you've been quite outspoken about it as well,
02:27in your mind, how many games a season do you think
02:30is an optimum level for an elite player to play?
02:36Honestly, I don't know the exact number.
02:39I think from my experience, I can tell you that 60, 70, no, obviously.
02:44I think between 40 and 50 is the amount of games
02:49in which a player can perform in the highest level.
02:53After that, everything comes, you drop,
02:55because it's impossible to sustain the physical level.
03:00And, yeah, I think this year we're going to go until 70, maybe 80.
03:05I don't know.
03:06It depends on how far you go into competitions.
03:09In my humble opinion, I think it's too much.
03:11I think we have to take care of ourselves.
03:14Someone has to take care of ourselves,
03:16because we are the main characters of this, let's say, sport or business,
03:21whatever you want to call it.
03:24And, yeah, I think not everything is money or marketing.
03:29It's also the quality of the show.
03:33In my opinion, when I rest, when I'm not tired, I perform better.
03:41And if the people want to see a better football, we need to rest.
03:46It's just something to put in there.
03:48But, yeah, that's what I think.
03:51Just on the quality of games,
03:53I think Erling Haaland said in the summer
03:55that he didn't think the European Championship,
03:58some of the games were of the same quality as he'd seen previously.
04:02Do you think that is sort of true with every competition at the moment,
04:06that the quality of football is probably not as high as we've seen?
04:11Yeah, I mean, I think in the beginning of the season, maybe yes.
04:15But now, because you end a season very close to another one,
04:20maybe you start not in the best shape as possible.
04:24So, yeah, I agree with you.
04:25When the amount of games starts getting bigger,
04:29the performance and the quality of the games are lower.
04:32So, let's see where football goes.
04:35In my opinion, I would prefer to have less and better quality,
04:38better show for the people.
04:41Rui, good to see you.
04:42How do you assess City's mental strength at the moment?
04:44Because to do what they've done in recent seasons requires a lot of factors,
04:49but the mental side of things seems to be a big factor.
04:53How would you assess the mental strength of your team-mates at the moment?
04:57Yeah, I agree.
04:58I agree because there's a lot of tiredness,
05:00there's a lot of, as we said, long seasons and you have to start again.
05:04So, most of these situations you kind of cover with mental strength,
05:10trying to be strong, trying to get the machine again rolling
05:16by winning or by performing well.
05:18I think the start of the season was great for us
05:21because the earlier you got into this run,
05:25the easier it is to continue in the season.
05:28So, yeah, I think that's the key,
05:31trying to be as fit as possible and try to make, as you say,
05:36the focus and the mental health be strong in these moments
05:40and followed by the season.
05:42We'll keep you to one each, guys, so we can get to as many as we can.
05:44Martin?
05:45Hi, Robby.
05:46Pep said just now, he's only just watched the final against Inter
05:50for the first time yesterday.
05:52Just wondered how many times you've watched it
05:54and, in particular, your goal.
05:57Well, the full game, maybe one or two.
06:01Small clips, like thousands, to be honest.
06:05But, yeah, I think we were watching the game yesterday, analysing them,
06:10because they haven't changed much in the way they play.
06:13And, yeah, it was great to see us back.
06:16He told us that it was the first time he watched the game.
06:19So, yeah, this is football.
06:22I mean, it was a great time, but now life goes on
06:26and we have no other challenges or goals in our heads.
06:29So, yeah, we need to move on and try to start as well as possible
06:35this new competition.
06:38Hi, Rodri.
06:39How much have you appreciated your time off that you've had since the Euros
06:44to kind of get a bit of rest?
06:47And did you switch off from football
06:50or were you sort of watching City switch on a telly somewhere?
06:54Well, it was great for my legs, great for me.
06:59I had like one month and after I need to recover a little bit also.
07:04So I think in general terms, like two months,
07:06it's been great for me to stop a little bit and to prepare myself.
07:12I think nowadays it's even more important to do these kind of things
07:15than not come early and do a pre-season.
07:18I think football is changing in that way.
07:21But yeah, it helps me a lot to stop, don't watch much football.
07:25Of course, when they start the pre-season, I watch them,
07:28but try to disconnect.
07:30And as your partner was saying, I mean, the mental health in that sense
07:34is important to refresh and move on.
07:40Hi, Rodri.
07:41Just going back to the schedule again.
07:43You said a minute ago that someone's got to take care of us,
07:46take care of the players.
07:48Do you think it will get to a point where after playing so many games
07:51or being asked to play so many games,
07:53that the players will say,
07:55I don't want to be part of this and they'll actually end up going on strike
07:58or refusing to play in such a big calendar?
08:03Yeah, I think we're close to that.
08:05I mean, because it's easy to understand.
08:08I mean, if we're asking something, and I think it's something general,
08:12I think if you ask any player, he would say the same.
08:15It's not like the opinion of Rodri or whatever.
08:17No, I think it's the general opinion of the players.
08:20And if it keeps this way, it will be a moment that we have no other option.
08:25I really think.
08:27But let's see. I don't know.
08:28I don't know what's going to happen,
08:30but it's something that worries us because we are the guys that suffer.
08:33So, yeah.
08:35Hi, Rodri.
08:37The latest news is that you've been offered a contract from City.
08:42So, I was just wondering if you could give us some insights
08:44into your thoughts on your future
08:46and how you see your career going in the next two, three, four years.
08:51Nothing much to say.
08:52I have, with this, three more years at City.
08:55And when I signed the contracts, I don't think on other teams.
09:02I just think on finishing.
09:05So, yeah, I have a contract with City.
09:07Nothing else I can say.
09:09James, yes?
09:13Rodri, just on the schedule again.
09:15The World Players' Union have talked a lot about the dangers and the perils of it.
09:22Are you as top players now?
09:26Is it becoming quite an open topic of conversation among you privately?
09:30The schedule and your quiet moments and how big an issue is it?
09:34Like the players in…
09:36When you join up with Spain, do you talk about it?
09:38And do the players at City talk about it?
09:40And do you think at Real Madrid and Barcelona and all the top clubs,
09:43players are starting to talk about it?
09:45It's becoming a thing for you?
09:48Well, I don't know.
09:50Because I can only tell you about my club and my national team.
09:54But, yeah, it's something we're worried about.
09:57Of course, it's not the same for all the players
09:59because not all the players play 60 games.
10:01It depends on which team you are.
10:03It depends if you play more or less.
10:05But all of us, we think the same.
10:09It's not just about that.
10:11It's also the time you have to break.
10:13Many things, many things.
10:15So, yeah, it's something we're worried about, as we said before.
10:19Let's see what it brings us, all these things.
10:24Last one in English with the answer, please.
10:27Hi, Roderick.
10:28Hi.
10:29Again, on the schedule.
10:31Erling has had a decent start to the season, you could say.
10:34He's talked about how his long summer break has helped with this.
10:38Is his start to the season a good example
10:41of why you need a good break between the seasons?
10:45Yeah, maybe it's a good example.
10:47I mean, he had a long break
10:50because his country didn't qualify for the Euros.
10:52So, a long break.
10:54And you see how he's performing right now.
10:57He's turning again that pace we saw in the early days.
11:03And, yeah, it gives you a clue why we ask this.
11:08But I don't know.
11:09That's my opinion and that's it.
11:13We'll take some questions.
11:14Any follow-up?
11:15There's a headset there if you need it, Roderick.
11:17Yeah.
11:18Yeah, go ahead.
11:23A few months ago,
11:24Akan Chalanooglu set his own ranking of the five best directors in the world.
11:29He came in first and you came in second.
11:32I'd like to know your ranking of the best directors in the world.
11:35It doesn't work, eh?
11:36No?
11:37No.
11:39I understand you, eh, but...
11:40Okay.
11:44I repeat.
11:45Go ahead.
11:46A few months ago,
11:47Chalanooglu set his own ranking of the best five directors in the world.
11:50He came in first and you came in second.
11:53I'd like to know your ranking of the best directors in the world.
12:05Well, what can I say?
12:08I mean, it's his opinion.
12:10I respect it.
12:11I'm not here to judge who's the best, who's not the best.
12:15I think you guys are more professional to analyse that, or the fans.
12:20I just want to be the best version of myself.
12:24I think he's a great player.
12:26I don't want to say who's the better.
12:28I want to be the best.
12:30That's why I perform, but I don't want to do a ranking.
12:36Yeah.
12:37Ciao.
12:38Sorry.
12:46Yeah, in English or Spanish?
12:48English.
12:51Yeah, we watched the game,
12:53but I don't need to watch them to know how they play
12:56because I've seen them many times.
12:59I know exactly the players and how they perform,
13:02but I don't know.
13:04I think they have many key players.
13:06I think they have a lot of talent.
13:08I don't know.
13:09I don't know.
13:10I don't know.
13:11I don't know.
13:12I think they have many key players.
13:14I think they defend very well.
13:16Their transitions are very good.
13:18They're a very solid team.
13:20They know exactly what to do when they have the ball.
13:23For me, that's the most important thing.
13:25Of course, they have big starts like Lautaro
13:28or different players, important players in the midfield.
13:32I don't know.
13:34Parela, Caranoglou, many of those.
13:38I think it's a very complete team.
13:40I don't think they're a big-star team.
13:43They have a main guy.
13:44They have lots of good players.
13:46They perform well as a team.
13:48They're tough to beat.
13:50I think we'll need our best performance to beat them tomorrow.
13:54We'll work collectively as a team.
13:56We know that it's going to be like knocking a wall
13:59because we know how Italian teams defend,
14:01so we have to do our best offensively.
14:05Hi, Rodrigo.
14:07Concerning the midfielders, from a midfielder point of view,
14:11what do you think the inter-midfielder players particularly have?
14:17Do they have something special?
14:19What do you like most of the midfielders?
14:22Because our concern is that after the Serie A match
14:27in which Mr. Inzaghi changed a lot in the midfield,
14:30tomorrow he'll probably play Mkhitaryan, Barella, Calhanoglu.
14:35So there is a lot of concern in this area of the midfield.
14:41Yeah, I think they're exactly the same players
14:46that I've been playing for the last years,
14:48except for Brozovic, let's say, that he moved on.
14:52Yeah, I know them very well.
14:54I know how they perform, the quality they have,
14:57and the way they defend and attack in that Inter de Milan.
15:02What can I say? I think they're very good players.
15:07They are the guys that control the game for them,
15:11and also they do something very well,
15:14the way they pass from defending to attacking at a very high speed
15:20and how they control.
15:21So yeah, I think we have to watch out.
15:23They're strong in that area, but we're also strong too.
15:26Let's see. Good battle tomorrow to watch.
15:30Thank you, guys.
15:31Yep, thank you, guys.