Rodri's Return: A Step Forward for Manchester City

Brighton, England, Sep 1 (AP) - Rodri emphasizes that his return to fitness doesn't guarantee Manchester City will immediately become the dominant force they once were. “I'm not Messi,” the Ballon d'Or winner remarked following his first Premier League start for City in 11 months, which resulted in a 2-1 defeat at Brighton on Sunday.

Having been sidelined for eight months due to an ACL injury, Rodri faced another setback with a groin injury sustained during the Club World Cup. He made a brief second-half appearance against Tottenham before starting the match against Brighton. City experienced losses in both games.

In the 2023-24 season, Rodri's presence was felt as City remained unbeaten in all 34 Premier League games he participated in, ultimately securing the title for a fourth consecutive year. “I'm not going to come back and make the team win and win,” he acknowledged. "This is a collective effort. When we succeeded in the past, I relied on all my teammates.

“I must regain my top form,” he added. "Hopefully, after the international break, we will return stronger." City's Premier League campaign began with an impressive 4-0 victory at Wolverhampton, though some doubts linger about whether Pep Guardiola's squad has the depth to sustain a title challenge against teams like Liverpool and Arsenal.

Rodri commented: "To be honest, I don't care. People can form their opinions. Our focus is on ourselves, working as hard as possible, and we'll let the end of the season speak for itself.”

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