City won the trophy to complete a historic Treble in the 2022/23 season with the Spaniard scoring the unforgettable winner in our victory over Inter.
The Italian giants visit the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night at 20:00 (UK) to kick off this season’s new-look Champions League.
Ahead of the game, Pep Guardiola and the players rewatched the Istanbul final in preparation for the rematch with Simone Inzaghi’s team.
Asked how many times he’s watched the game, Rodrigo said: “The full game maybe one or two times. Small clips? Thousands, to be honest.
“We watched the game yesterday, analysing them because they haven’t changed much in the way they play and it was great to see it back.
“This is football - it was a great time and now life goes on. We need to move on and try to start as well as possible in the new competition.”
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Certainly, Rodrigo hasn’t stood still since that phenomenal night, with the midfielder playing a big part in last season’s Premier League title success before helping Spain to success at the European Championship.
It has made him among the frontrunners for the Ballon d’Or, with Phil Foden, Erling Haaland and Ruben Dias also on the shortlist.
Playing in a defensive midfield role is not a fashionable position to pick up the award but Rodri is hoping he might be able to change that opinion.
“To be honest, I am very happy for everything that happened to me in the last years,” he said.
“What we’ve won and to win with my country at the Euros is a dream. It’s a consequence of working hard, the consistency and never giving up.
“I really feel right now that people are recognising my work and trying to push me to win it.
“It’s not something I think about but it would be a dream of course. I never thought I could arrive to this moment.
“In my position, I play a different role to most players nominated for the trophies but football can be beautiful to all views, as a midfielder or defender.
“There’s lots of people that appreciate the role of midfielder so let’s see what happens.”
