Rodri aims to break English record as City, United clash in Manchester derby

Rodri looking to break all-time English football record in Manchester derby
Manchester City midfielder Rodri will be looking to break an all-time English football record in Sunday’s Manchester derby showdown with rivals Manchester United in the Premier League.

The 27-year-old is an integral member of Pep Guardiola’s squad during his near five-year stay at the Etihad Stadium and has won a total of 10 trophies with the Citizens.

Rodri scored the decisive goal against Inter Milan to help Man City win their first-ever Champions League trophy last season, completing a historic treble after lifting a third successive Premier League title and the FA Cup.

The Spanish lynchpin has since made his presence felt this term, scoring seven goals and registering seven assists in 33 appearances across all competitions, with his most recent strike rescuing a point in a 1-1 home draw with Chelsea a fortnight ago.

Remarkably, 13 months have passed since Man City lost a match with Rodri in their starting lineup – a slender 1-0 away defeat in the top flight to Tottenham Hotspur on February 5 last year.

Since then, Rodri has enjoyed a 58-game unbeaten run across all competitions, with City’s 1-0 win at Bournemouth last weekend enabling him to equal the record set by former Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho.

Rodri looking to break all-time English football record in Manchester derby
Should Man City avoid defeat in Sunday’s 192nd Manchester derby, Rodri will set a new record in English football for the longest-ever unbeaten run by a player across all competitions.

Rodri boasts an impressive 80% win rate during his 58-game undefeated streak, which includes 44 victories and 11 draws.

During that same period, Man City have played a total of 10 games without the presence of Rodri in their starting lineup, winning five and losing five.

Since Rodri joined the Citizens in August 2019, Guardiola’s side have played 16 Premier League games without Rodri and have lost six of those, including three this season when he served two separate suspensions.

Rodri’s importance was recently highlighted by Guardiola, who labelled his Spanish compatriot as the ‘best midfielder in the world by far’ following the 1-1 draw with Chelsea.

“He’s an unbelievable player. He’s the best midfield player in the current world by far,” Guardiola told reporters. “It’s because he’s able to do everything.

“So the tempo he has, especially his character when the situation is going wrong, he steps forward to arrive to the box, go backwards, the ability to play short and long. He’s always ready.

Rodri looking to break all-time English football record in Manchester derby
“What a signing. Manchester City signed a player that is difficult to understand what we have done in recent years without him. It would’ve been difficult.”

“He is [appreciated], Guardiola added. “I would say the holding midfielder doesn’t get appreciated like the strikers, the No.10s, that is good.

“So when a holding midfielder has a lot of appreciation, it’s not good. Holding midfielder has to play for the team…for him and for the team. They make the team play.

“This is the role of the holding midfielder. All the highlights have to be for the guys up front who score goals and make assists and so on. But Rodri always has the ability in the important moments to score goals.”

Rodri has a mixed record against Man United as he has won six, drawn one and lost five of his previous 12 meetings with the Red Devils in all tournaments, but he was in the Citizens side that cruised to a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford earlier this season.

Man City currently sit second in the Premier League table and could find themselves four points adrift of leaders Liverpool before they lock horns with Man United on Sunday if Jurgen Klopp’s men beat Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

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