Manchester City boast one of the best teams in world football, featuring players that frighten and inspire opponents in equal measure.
The same is also true for the coaching staff, with Pep Guardiola widely known as one of the best and most revolutionary managers in recent football history.
And even though Manchester City didn’t have the greatest of seasons last term, their transfer activity this year shows they’re eager to regain their spot at the top.
Sean Dyche has now spoken at length about a City player who he deems truly inspirational – so much so he used to show clips of him to his own players.
Rodri in action for Manchester City v Wydad AC at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images
Sean Dyche says he ‘showed’ Rodri to his midfielders
Dyche was on talkSPORT on Saturday as he spoke about City’s transfer business so far.
However, the player he raved about is one who has been at the club for a number of years now – namely Rodri.
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Dyche explained how he – along with other coaches – noted how important Rodri was for City even before everyone started raving about him.
“What a player, honestly,” said Dyche. “I used to love (David) Silva when he was there, but I looked at Rodri and I just showed him to the midfield players because his stats are amazing.
“The amount of football he plays, the amount of minutes he plays, the amount he’s out there and he’s constantly moving around the pitch.
“When you watch him he’s constantly just seeing the game, seeing the next picture before it happens, both out of possession as well by the way, he reads the game fantastically well…
“It’s very rare he’s in the wrong slot and he popped up with big goals which we know he can.
“He *was* one of them unsung heroes, really, because he’s been playing like that three or four seasons ago before everyone started raving about him.
“As a manager you’re going, ‘oh, look at this guy’, sweeping up and he just shuts the game down – any moment of trouble on transition he’s either there and deals with it or, clever technical foul or distribution, regains it, plays it simple, calms everything down.
“A diffuser, as we call it, he could just diffuse a game with one simple tackle and a pass the game, calms it down – fantastic player!”
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Pep Guardiola’s ‘very important’ plan for Rodri
It’s great to see Rodri getting his flowers after being an “unsung hero” for so long, and last season proved just what an important player he is for club and country.
However, Rodri is finally fit again following his long-term injury, getting 30 minutes under his belt in City’s 2-0 win over Wydad AC in the Club World Cup.
After the game, Pep Guardiola made his plans for Rodri clear going forward, with the midfielder expected to feature more as the tournament progresses.
“30 minutes, step-by-step. He wants more, but it’s the first step,” Guardiola told reporters about Rodri.
“What your head wants, your mind, that is top. But at the same time, often you need the process, and that is very, very important.”