Rodri predicts ‘tough’ Premier League title battle for Manchester City as he expects Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa to push them to the wire… as Treble-winning Spaniard completes whole year unbeaten for his club
- Rodri is unbeaten for 52 weeks and 52 games for Manchester City
- The Spanish midfielder predicts that Pep Guardiola’s team will have to fight to retain the title
- Arsenal fans have gone from over-celebrating to over-reacting… their team MUST support Liverpool’s win – It’s all Kicking Off podcast
Rodri believes Manchester City face a tough task to repeat last season’s Treble heroics, with Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa all well equipped to handle them.
The Spanish midfielder – who has proved invaluable to Pep Guardiola – completed a 52-match unbeaten year while playing for City this week.
During that time, Rodri helped them win the Premier League title, the FA Cup, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.
But with City currently two points behind Liverpool and level on points with Arsenal in the Premier League title race, Rodri acknowledged a repeat performance would be a tall order.
“Every year since I’ve been here has been tougher,” he told the newspaper Daily mirror.
Rodri enjoyed an exceptional undefeated year at Manchester City, winning five trophies
Helping City to their first Champions League success was a highlight for the Spaniard
‘I think we have two more title contenders this year, or even three if you want to add Villa. It’s even harder when you have more opponents.
‘I don’t expect it to be decided within a month. I think it will go down to the last match. But we will be ready for that.
‘I knew Liverpool would come back, Liverpool with (Jurgen) Klopp and the players they had all those years. Of course it was a new cycle for them, all those players leaving, but you see the way they play. It is the same.
“They have changed the players but they play the same and I expect them to be there.
‘We all see what Arsenal are capable of. They beat Liverpool in a very good way. It’s a team that did almost everything perfectly last year. Almost.
“They’re doing great, so they’ll be there too.”
Rodri even named Villa, who are five points off the top in fourth place, and Tottenham in fifth place as potential title challengers.
City’s victory over Brentford on Monday evening saw Rodri make it an unbeaten calendar year
Rodri believes current Premier League leaders Liverpool will push City to their limits this season
Last season it was Arsenal who set a ferocious pace before a collapse in form during the spring allowed City to play the first leg of their Treble.
Guardiola’s side remain on course in the FA Cup, where they travel to Luton Town in the fifth round on February 27, and in the Champions League, where Danish side Copenhagen await them in the last 16.
City host Everton in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
Rodri’s sensational unbeaten run of 52 weeks and 52 matches began after beating Tottenham City 1-0 on February 5 last year. In that time they have won 42 matches and drawn the remaining 10.
Arsenal fans would point out that they beat City in the FA Community Shield on penalties in August, but statisticians count that as a draw over 90 minutes.
The City star also won the UEFA Nations League with Spain to cap an exceptional 12 months
Rodri’s only other disappointment was Spain’s 2-0 defeat to Scotland in Euro 2024 qualifying last March.
But he also helped Spain win the UEFA Nations League during that time.
In the seven games City played without their talismanic midfielder, they lost five.
