Rodrygo has admitted that Real Madrid ‘didn’t want to face’ Manchester City as the two teams prepare to meet in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Real Madrid host the European champions in the first leg of their last eight tie on Tuesday, in a contest that has become increasingly familiar on this stage.
It’s the third consecutive campaign that the teams meet in the Champions League’s latter stages, having faced off in semi-finals in each of the past two campaigns.
Rodrygo’s stunning stoppage-time double sent Real Madrid through in dramatic fashion in 2021/22, before City exacted revenge on the Spanish side last season, en route to a first-ever Champions League crown.
Ahead of the latest instalment, Rodrygo admits Real Madrid were far from pleased with the quarter-final draw.
“It brings back good memories but also bad ones,” Rodrygo said, as per The Guardian.
“This was an opponent that, to be honest, we didn’t want to face. And they think the same as well: they didn’t want to play against us. It’s a game that everyone expects to be the final, but it’s going to be now. Man City are very good, but our team is also very strong. It’s going to be good to meet them again.”
Asked whether Manchester City represent the toughest test in the Champions League, Rodrygo agreed and labelled Pep Guardiola’s treble winners the best team in the world’.
“Without a doubt,” he said. “They’re the Champions League winners, they’re the world champions, today they’re the best team in the world, so we have total respect for them.
“There are no bad or medium [City] players. There’s no player you can think of like: ‘This one I’m going to press because he isn’t good and he will give us a goal or a great chance.’ They have a very good control of the game and of the ball. It’s a very beautiful game, a very difficult team. It’s very annoying to play against them but I believe in our team.”
