Rodri has been a consistent starter for Manchester City in recent months, but he did not know whether this would be a possibility a year ago.
In 2024, Rodri reached the pinnacle of his career, as he became the first ever Manchester City player to win the Ballon d’Or.
However, the following year he suffered a cruciate ligament tear, causing the midfielder to be sidelined for 236 days, missing 53 matches in total.
Rodri has had other issues with his knee and hamstring since his return, but he has experienced a clean bill of health since the start of January.
Rodri did not know if he would return from his injury
Although Rodri is now looking a lot closer to his best, he actually had doubts while he was injured about whether he would be able to play football again.
The Spain international has described his physical and mental struggles, in a process he now says he is ‘proud’ to have lived.
Rodri told the Carabao Cup final matchday programme (as relayed by Manchester Evening News): “It’s such an incredible thing to be back playing regularly. I had been doubting many things including if I was going to be able to come back.
“Physically, you are in pain. Mentally, you have a lot of feelings. I really questioned myself, but getting to a place like where I’m at now, it makes me proud of the process I’ve lived. Now it’s about enjoying being back where I want to be.”
Speaking about winning trophies with Man City, Rodri continued: “When you go through a time like I’ve been through, you have a lot of time to think,” he said, speaking in an interview published in the Carabao Cup final programme.
“We’re very lucky to enjoy our profession and sometimes when you’re involved in these battles to win you don’t realise a lot of things. When it is taken away you appreciate what you normally take for granted.
“At this club, we are used to the demands of winning trophies. When we don’t win for one year it feels like a long time. I know how difficult it is to win and that drives me on to get more.”
He added: “It feels like a challenge. Are you able to do it again? Are you able to sustain the level? That is the mentality of this team. The manager is the one who teaches us that way. He’s the first one with such desperation and hunger to win again and again, even though he’s already won so much.”
Rodri will be eyeing at least one more trophy this season
That desire to keep on winning which Rodri has mentioned is why teams like Manchester City have been so successful over the years.
It is a mentality which needs to continue, as the Citizens still have an opportunity to win an additional two trophies this season.
The Premier League table is not weighted in their favour, but Rodri and his teammates just have to keep fighting.
As for the FA Cup, a win over Liverpool would see City advance to the semi-finals, so that is definitely another piece of silverware they could be lifting.
