The defensive midfielder, who joined the Club in the summer of 2019, has played a key role in the Premier League leaders’ recent record-breaking run, as Pep Guardiola‘s men have won 17 successive games in all competitions.
Enjoying his best spell of form in sky blue, the Spaniard credits a growing familiarity – with Guardiola’s playing style, the English league and his teammates.
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“Since I came here, for sure [it is the best football I have played],” Rodrigo reflected.
“Individually, I have had one more year of experience, adapted myself better in the games and, of course, I think the rise in the level we have achieved as I have never seen that here.
“Pep has been the same since I arrived. He just wants the best for the team and the best performances and growth of everyone. That is what he wants.
“Since I arrived, he has helped me a lot to grow and we showed with specific players that they are not the same players as the last years and they reached their best level and that is so important.
“I think the competition and the high level of the Premier League makes you grow and of course the coach every day. I have had two years with him now and I know him more now since I came here.
“We learn every day; we try to learn about what he is saying and learn about him. It is a matter of every day and not just specific things.
“I am in an unbelievable team with unbelievable human beings. There is an amazing environment in the team.
“We all train with each other and we are a family because I spend more time with them than my real family.
“This is an unbelievable environment and I enjoy playing with all of them. Each one has their own personality and their own skills and I learn about everyone.
“They are raising the level and they make you push to the same level. That is the good thing about this team, we all want to be on the same level.
“We fight and compete with the others as a team and this is the only way.
“If my teammate is doing good and is growing then I must do the same. That is the only way we can achieve what we want as a team.
“I feel like I fit very well in this team, the team has helped me a lot and that I am very involved in this praise, so I am very happy.
“We just want to continue with this and the team is more confident in what it is doing. Sometimes when you don’t get the results, you think you are doing things wrong.
“Since the lockdown last year, I think the team has made a step forward and this is a result of the work over a long period.”
Seeking our 18th consecutive win - and 25th game unbeaten - City travel to Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal on Sunday in a 16:30 (UK time) kick-off.
Hailing his side’s mentality as instrumental to our upturn in fortunes, Rodrigo adds that maintaining the current level of focus - individually and collectively - will see the league leaders achieve success.
“I think that (mentality) is the key to this season for us,” he continued.
“I don’t think we were doing that bad, but the level of this league is like this. If you are not at your high level then you can drop points or lose and this happened at the beginning of the season.
“I think we made a step forward since the last defeat. The team was mentally focused and working harder.
“I remember we all agreed that we could all do more individually for the team and that is why the key to the team is individual performances and we look to ourselves and think that we can do a little bit more for the team.
“It is unbelievable what the team is doing. To get 17 wins in a row is very tough and I think we have to take a look and see what we are doing because it is not easy.
“We want to continue with this because it is the only way to achieve things. We need to keep working, having the same mentality and don’t drop it and fight until the end.
“I am so happy and proud of this. I feel really good and that every game I am growing as a player.
“Preparation (for Arsenal) is not much different [from the reverse fixture]. We have changed our situation but not the fact that we are going to fight until the end and face this match as if it is a Final.
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“It is going to be such a tough game at Arsenal, so we need to keep the level if we want to win.
“They have a very good squad and they can punish anyone so we have to be focused on what we are doing.
“We are all going to be crucial and so important [until the end of the season].
“There are so many games and we are going to fight for every single trophy.
“We don’t think much about this as we just focus on every single game, the next game and that is the only way to achieve big things.
“There is only one team that wins the trophy and 19 teams don’t. It is very tough and difficult so I always say: ‘don’t drop it and to keep going’ because we are doing amazing things, but only by working and staying focused can we continue this.”
