Rodri: Real Madrid will suffer against Manchester City if they want to progress | OneFootball

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has called upon his teammates and the club’s fanbase to ensure Real Madrid find it difficult in Tuesday’s return leg at the Etihad Stadium.

Alvaro Arbeloa’s side took a giant step towards the UEFA Champions League quarter-final last week as Federico Valverde’s sensational 22 minute hat-trick left Manchester City shell-shocked and needing to pull off a miraculous comeback in the second leg.

City have won once in their last four games in all competitions and lost further ground in the Premier League title race at the weekend by allowing leaders Arsenal to extend their lead to nine points as a result of a disappointing 1-1 draw away at West Ham.

Guardiola and co have as difficult as fixture schedule on the horizon as it gets and every game is a final for City between now and the end of the season, with the Blues still in the running for an unprecedented quadruple.

Rodri ‘disappointed’ but ‘proud’ of the fight Manchester City showed against Real Madrid and West Ham

Despite his side enduring difficult results against Real Madrid and West Ham last week, Manchester City midfielder Rodri was proud of the efforts shown by a side at a nascent stage of their transition under new management.

“I’m disappointed but at the same time, I’m proud,” the Ballon d’Or winner said in a recent interview with official Manchester City media. “We tried everything but I think it’s been the turning of this season.

Rodri went on to admit that City’s profligacy in front of goal has cost them in the business end of the season, with their title hopes and European run hanging by a thread following a poor run of results lately.

The Spain international added: “It’s not enough at this level, you have to put the ball in the net. It’s what we’re missing. There’s no point in dropping heads. It’s a moment to recover the mentality to go again and we have good things to fight for. We know it might be difficult but at home, we’re strong.”

Rodri: “When I really believe, trust me, we can do it!”

Rodri has rallied his teammates to wear their hearts on their sleeves and believe of the improbable yet not impossible with every inch of their bodies on Tuesday night.

“I call all the people to believe, always support the team in every moment,” the former Atletico Madrid man said. “I really believe! And when I really believe, trust me, we can do it.

“This team has showed many times. Let’s make our stadium a difficult place and if they (Real Madrid) want to go through, at least they suffer.”

It is now or never for Manchester City to show up in attack and all eyes will be on Guardiola’s team selection for the return leg, having drawn strong criticism for overthinking his lineup for the 3-0 loss last week.