Whilst the immediate focus is trained on Wednesday’s latest Premier League clash at home to Brighton, an intensive January schedule also sees City stepping up our quest for success in the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and UEFA Champions League.
It means there is everything to play for looking ahead to the rest of the 2025/26 campaign.
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And though Sunday’s result means Arsenal now hold a six-point advantage at the top of the table, with 18 games still to go and 54 points up for grabs, Rodri says City will stay focused on the bigger picture and the principles that have brought so much success over the course of Pep Guardiola’s incredible reign.
“It’s quite a gap but football is for moments. We know that it’s a big gap that we have to still fight for,” Rodri said.
“Don’t focus on the table, just focus on our level, and all the big things that are going to come at the end of the season.
“Let’s see where we are in May and we’ll see if we have chances to go for it.
“It doesn’t feel good to be behind, [but] we know that we have to be strong in the head to keep battling.
“We have to be smart enough to know that we can’t drop many points.
“This period has ups and downs, we need to know that from now on, until the end of the season, we have to go for it.”
Playing what was just his third full 90 minutes of the season, and first since September, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner produced a magnificent all-round display at the Etihad.
It looked as if his impact would help City claim a crucial three points only for Chelsea to claim a draw thanks to Enzo Fernandez’s 94th minute leveller.
For the Spaniard, the lessons and learnings looking to the rest of the season were abundantly clear – to ensure we seek to convert pressure and chances into tangible reward in the shape of goals.
“Yes, I think we missed a lot of chances, I think we have to be more clinical and more effective in those situations,” Rodri pointed out.
“The game changed and we didn’t. At 1-0 you always have these risks and in the last minute they scored but, it is what it is, we have to learn from these things.
“Don’t put your head down and keep the strong, champion mentality we have and fight for it until the end.”
City v Brighton tickets on general sale
We welcome an entertaining Brighton side to the Etihad at 19:30 (UK) on Wednesday 7 January.
And with tickets now on general sale, you could be there to see it!
Fans can now claim three tickets each, with adults from £30 and concessions as low as £15.
Or make it a night to remember with hospitality packages starting from just £180 per person and a wide range of experiences available to suit your budget.
