Manchester City slipped to a frustrating 2-1 defeat against Brighton at the Amex stadium, despite taking the lead in the first half through Erling Haaland on his 100th Premier League appearance. Pep Guardiola’s side looked in control in the oprning stages of the game but allowed the Seagulls back into the contest after the break, with James Milner and Brajan Gruda striking to seal the three points for the hosts.
Speaking to the club’s media via the official website, Rodri admitted that City simply haven’t been at their best for a long time, stressing that the team needs to reflect and reset if they want to compete for the title again.
The Spaniard, making his first start since last September after recovering from a long-term ACL injury, was brutally honest in his assessment of the performance. He said;
“It’s disappointing because we’re Man City and we come here to win. But this is the reality, we are not at the level for a long, long time,” he declared.
“The only way to come back is to look at ourselves. That’s the reality.
“I think we started well but in the second half we dropped a little bit, and here at their home with the pressure and two big mistakes from us and then 2-1.
“We’re missing the level, I don’t know, call it what you want. It’s a matter of the team, changes, new players have to adapt and when you change the team that much it is difficult. This is our reality, it’s not excuses.
“I don’t think we had control of the game. I don’t think we were at our best, we didn’t create much. It’s many aspects. Today we should win because the two goals we conceded are two mistakes. Some of the mistakes are like kids mistakes. This is football. When we lose it is easy to point at everyone. The reality is we have to raise the level if we want to compete for the Premier League.
“We have to look to ourselves and see that this is not the way to achieve things. Let’s go to the international break, clean our minds and come back stronger.”
Rodri’s honest words pobably reflects the mood within the squad, with City’s usually high standards dipping in recent weeks. it is no news that Guardiola has been urging his players to rediscover their rhythm and consistency, especially with the title race heating up. For Rodri, the defeat wasn’t just about missed chances but about the team lacking control and making avoidable errors.
The midfielder, who won the Ballon d’Or last October, has been gradually eased back into the team by Guardiola after sitting out for a long period. His return to the starting lineup is a boost for the cityzens, but Rodri was quick to stress that one player alone cannot change the fortunes of a team that has looked short of its usual dominance. he said;
“I’m not Messi. I’m not going to come back and make the team win and win,” he said. “This is a collective, when we won in the past, I needed all my teammates.
“For sure I have to recover and find my best level. It’s not because I’m back we’re going to win. It’s a collective sport. Hopefully after the break we can come back much better.”
Those final words underline his perspective, City’s success has always come from unity, depth, and shared responsibility rather than individual brilliance. it is no news that Guardiola will be counting on his senior players, including Rodri, to help reset the tone after the international break and ensure the 8 time Premier league Champions return to form.
