“Leave me alone, let’s go to the gala concert to applaud” | Relief
Rodrigo Hernandeznew Golden Ball, gave his first interview in Spain after winning the award at Partidazo de Cope. The Manchester City player has of course been in the media spotlight for his trophy win, but also for his club’s poor results. In fact, Pep Guardiola improved for the first time in his sports career. four defeats in a row and Liverpool are already five points ahead of them in the Premier League. “I didn’t prepare anything. You prepare for what might happen and I responded:Leave me alone, let’s go to the gala to applaud’“, the midfielder comments on air.
Although, of course, the main topic of conversation with Juanma Castaño was his controversial victory over Vinicius Junior, who was initially a big favorite. Rodri tries to justify the role of footballers who do not score goals, but who are also necessary for the performance of their teams: “I think I win through consistency, that is the most difficult thing in football. This is not to give me medals.” when I didn’t, I said it better. I think I was the most consistent of the season. I can’t say whether I deserved it or not, but I can say that I never thought that I could repeat a season like last year. year.
Simultaneously with the resounding victory, there followed the Real Madrid sit-in, which so outraged the football world. The club decided not to attend the gala because the Brazilian had no intention of winning the prestigious trophy. But he had awards in his favor: Best coach Carlo Ancelotti, club of the year and top scorer of the season Kylian Mbappe, who tied with Robert Lewandowski.
“It didn’t hurt me at all. Once I win, it’s my time. The last thing I think about is the people who didn’t come, quite the opposite. For show and trophies it is better that the best in the world are there, for glamour, for children. That would be great,” says Rodrigo Hernandez.
He also met his “Vinicius, Vinicius” at a dinner held in Paris, privately and in a festive atmosphere. He wanted to clarify: “People need to understand that competition is healthy… It was a private party. If we put cameras in our houses… I have never disrespected anyone. I have deep respect for Vinicius and Real Madrid. Why should I miss a message from you? All the clubs should congratulate me, but they don’t. I worry about my family and my club. “I wouldn’t do it that way.”
Rodri would vote for Carvajal and Vinicius on the podium, although he believes Haaland is currently the best player in the world: “He is the most determined, he is the only one who can achieve the numbers that Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi have achieved.“.
Throughout the conversation Rodri, as always, turned out to be a normal boy.simple, far removed from many of the luxuries that football has and its extravagant personalities. Although there is no need to assert anything, the conversation has gone in this direction. Of course, this is a familiar type: “Mom wants to put it at the entrance, in a holiday village or in the city. I tell her: “Mom, please. The family is learning the same way I am.”
And he resumed the moment of speech: “I had nothing prepared. You prepare for what might happen, and I said, “Leave me alone, let’s go to the gala and applaud.” I started to think I could win, my agent told me not to prepare anything. Everything could have ended well, as it did, or fatally.” Despite all the doubts surrounding this topic, he repeats that he did not know anything even in the previous seconds: “I felt disbelief. Vinicius started screaming. I thought, “What’s going on here?” “I had a lot of respect for the audience there.”
Were you hesitant to go?
Of course, Rodri’s absence would be completely justified. The midfielder recently underwent surgery for a torn cruciate ligament and still requires crutches to walk. He made a lot of effort and in the end after that he thought: how was he not warned: “Rumors appeared that same morning. Messages came to me and those around me, very excited, without any certainty. We said not to believe anything and go there. Nobody from the magazine tells you anything. After all, I was waiting for someone to tell me something, I was there with crutches…”
However, he decided to go no matter what: “I was right in that section that I could have supported a little, but no, there was no need to go. This is one of the few things I was going to get this year.” I said we’d go, even though I knew I wouldn’t win. That was my mentality. If they don’t confirm anything to you until the envelope is opened… You may have a clue because they didn’t come for anything. “It was an interesting day.”
An award that changed his life… Or not. Moreover, Rhodri continues to be the same boy as always, although he also does not want to be the only one. So between laughs he replies: “People think they will find me in the library. I am transparent and that is what has brought me to where I am. There will never be a tattoo or Instagram, it doesn’t attract me at all. Morata tells me I’m stupid, that if I had social media I’d already have the Ballon d’Or. The first thing I told him was: “Look, with the Ballon d’Or and no social media.”
First of all, he remembered some advice from the former coach who always kept his foot on the ground: “I have to say one thing that Luis Enrique told us:”Do you think the World Cup will change your life?‘. “It doesn’t change who you are for tomorrow or what you plan to do in life, but it does change how people see you.”
Messages from Iniesta, Busquets… and anger over Vinicius not winning: “We are more about our club than our country”
The Manchester City player also commented, although without revealing too much information, on those congratulating him after the victory: “One of the people who excited me the most was Iniesta. I thought, “What should I tell him?” It bothered me because he should also have the Ballon d’Or.. I told him that for me he is the best of all time in our country. I was a little embarrassed to answer him. Busi (Busquets) also congratulated me, many people…”
That’s right Busquets went on air after Rodri announced their friendship: “I should have been here, I congratulated him and he still hasn’t answered me.”. To which the winner replies: “But there is so much confidence that it is not necessary.” The Inter Miami player laughs and the City player reveals the advice he gave him: “He told me not to talk to Guardiola, depending on what day… (laughs).” Along the way, we remembered how he played as a central defender at the World Cup, because employment was ahead: “Do you know how much my ankles hurt?“.
Although his victory was widely accepted, there were also many Spanish citizens who regretted that Vinicius was not the winner. Something that didn’t bother Rhodri, although it was suggestive: “If they say it because they really feel it, I don’t have a problem. We are a peculiar country, we are more about our club than about our country. And this does not happen in other countries. This is our feeling, but I felt the affection of many people.”
Something he has already forgotten, what better way to enjoy his Ballon d’Or: “I don’t take it with me everywhere because it’s a little heavy, and now with crutches… But when I get better, I I will always take it with me.” , I sleep with this: “I’m going to take him to Manchester.” Yes, to Manchester, because he now lives in Madrid with his parents and his partner, who has left work for a few weeks: “He was given a month and a half leave. They tell him that the main thing is that I get well, that this is how they win (Manchester City).“.
For now he will stay, although he is already thinking about his return: “I plan to play this season, Mundialito ends on July 13.” And on the horizon is a contract extension with City, with whom he has two years left on his contract: “Now due to injury…”. Who knows if he will offer them in the future, because he wants to move towards sports management: “I like Chica’s life better, I see him as a better person than Pepe (laughs).“.
First, of course, he will have to end his sports career, possibly in Spain: “I don’t know, I like to live in the present. I feel like England was my home. There’s no point in closing the doors“I still love the Spanish league as well as the English one… I will have to think a lot about leaving there. He doesn’t really link his future to Pep Guardiola’s and reveals the warning that was given.” to him on the first day: “I arrived and: “They told me that he was leaving next year, but five years have already passed.”
Finally, Rodri responded to his scandalous statement “he is Spanish, Gibraltar is Spanish”, for which he was even punished by UEFA. And this too could have cost him dearly upon his return to England… although this did not happen:”If they didn’t know where Gibraltar was. I told them if it bothered them and they said, “What is it?” Look, if they didn’t know better“.