Rodri: “When Real Madrid calls you, it’s a great honor and you should always be attentive”

Rodri HernandezHe second Ballon d’Or in Spanish football historygave an interview to the program “Stringer” a day after his media presence in “El Hormiguero” by Pablo Motos.

IN SER Network The Manchester City and Spain midfielder spoke to Manu Carreno about the Ballon d’Or, Guardiola’s contract extension with City, his injury, coach De la Fuente, Real Madrid and even Vinicius.

Manu Carreno – Rodri: “If Real Madrid called you one day, would you think about it?

“Obviously, when Real Madrid calls you the best club in history and the most successful, what that means is a great honor. You always need to be careful. This is clear.”

Rodri, recovering from a torn cruciate ligament, announces when he wants to play again

“I work out almost more than if I were healthy. Every day I spend four to five hours. I had surgery, and on the third day I started working on my knee; there was no time to waste. date, around March or April.”

“I want to finish this season and not miss it. Every year they get longer and I think I’ll get there. With the Nations League and the Club World Cup, I think I can get there.”

“I don’t know what I will participate in, but I think it will be in the Nations League and the Club World Cup. Around June-July.”

Here’s how Rodri survived the ‘brutal’ moment of being named Ballon d’Or

“It was a brutal moment. You see the players when they were little, and now you…”

“My knee was weak and Drogba told me to show it and I told him I couldn’t move…”

“Over time, optimism awakens, but my family and I decided not to get our hopes up. Put yourself in my shoes. No one came to me and told me I was going to be a winner.”

“First of all, it must be said that that day was a rollercoaster. I was sure I wouldn’t win because of all the information coming in. This year, due to injury, I said I had to go because it wasn’t every day that we were going to go to the Ballon d’Or gala. Then the day changes and events move quickly. Hours pass, optimism awakens, but my family and I decided not to get our hopes up. He came up and told me. I, it had to be him. winner. No one confirmed anything to me until Weah opened the envelope and saw my name on it.”

“I was surprised by the confidence that I would not win in Spain.”

“This Ballon d’Or was a recognition that sometimes work is not visible, but when it is not there, it is missed.”

“I want the Ballon d’Or not to change me. My family cares about this. Because of the intelligence that brought me here in the first place, why am I going to change?”

“This is not one of my goals in life. I’ve always set myself short-term goals and suddenly you realize you’re here and fighting for the Ballon d’Or. There are many other Spaniards who haven’t won it. and were better players than me, so these are football circumstances.

Rodri weighs in on Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City extension

“It’s a joy that Pep decides to continue. He is the most influential coach in my career. This is a joy for the club and for all the “citizens”. I know him and when I signed with them they told me I was only going to be there for a few years and I was going to leave, I already knew it wasn’t going to happen.”

“Guardiola is similar to Simeone in how demanding they are and how much they love the sport.”

Rodri on Real’s absence from the Ballon d’Or gala

“I don’t know if Real Madrid will go to another gala or not.”

Rodri talks about Vinicius’ attitude

“Vinicius is one of the best players in the world. He’s a smart guy, and over time he realized that the more attentive he was on the field, the better he would be. He has a lot to improve on, just like everyone else. He is young and needs good advice, and even more so at Real Madrid. This is a club with values, so there’s not much I can say.

“Athletes are not only what you represent on the field, but also off the field.”

Here’s how Rodri sees De la Fuente’s importance as Spain coach

“De la Fuente has been good for us. Now it’s time to extend it and keep playing as long as possible.”

“On the first day of his arrival, he said: “We will break down the door.”

How did Rodri react to the fact that Luis Enrique put him in the position of central defender for the national team?

“It took me by surprise, but at that moment, where others might have seen a brown spot, I saw an opportunity to carve out a space for myself because I wasn’t going to have that kind of prominence with Busquets. I remember leaving it in the second half with a death glare, I knew I had to give it my all and because of that I was allowed to play in the World Cup. If Luis Enrique sent me there, it was because he believed I had the ability. The command worked and I was right. Coaches see things and don’t have to watch a lot of games. Already in Qatar. “I remember I started watching Pique and Puyol at the 2010 World Cup and said: this is a different rhythm, this is not the football I play today.”