Rodri has set Manchester City a target of winning at least nine of their remaining 10 games if they want to retain the Premier League title.
City ground out a 1-1 draw at Liverpool yesterday despite not being at their best and end the weekend in third place, a point adrift of the Merseysiders and Arsenal.
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Pep Guardiola’s men have arguably the toughest run-in of the three with games against Arsenal, Tottenham and Aston Villa to come and Rodri knows there is very little room for manoeuvre.
He told the Independent: “We need a break. We have the FA Cup game [against Newcastle] and then the international break so it will be good for us to refresh and give the last push at the end of the season.
“We know how good we are in the last part of the season, we just need to charge the batteries again and focus on the last 10 games.
“It seems you have to win nine or 10 games to win this Premier League. This is the challenge and we are going to go for it.”
City dominated the early exchanges at Anfield and deservedly went in front when John Stones converted a clever corner routine at the near post.
John Stones delivering the goods from an exquisite @KevinDeBruyne corner! 🫡 pic.twitter.com/mxoWbix6dg
— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 10, 2024
But Liverpool improved as the game went on. Alexis Mac Allister equalised from the penalty spot after Ederson’s clumsy challenge on Darwin Nunez and the hosts felt they should have had a penalty late on when Jeremy Doku’s high challenge on Mac Allister went unpunished.
Rodri added: “An incredible game. We started really well in terms of chances and dominance and I think it was quite good. The second half was their half.
“Of course with the crowd and the way they played and pressed, we weren’t clinical enough to find the spaces.
“We made a few mistakes but with the high press it is difficult, you are not precise with the ball and that’s what happened in terms of the penalty.
“We are there in the fight and this club is about the mentality of the team. Sometimes when we don’t play well, [it’s important] we don’t lose.”
