By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 15:33 EDT, 31 August 2025 | Updated: 15:33 EDT, 31 August 2025
BRIGHTON, England (AP) - Rodri insists his return to fitness will not automatically turn Manchester City into the dominant force of old.
"I´m not Messi," the Ballon d'Or winner said after making his first Premier League start for City in 11 months in the team's 2-1 loss at Brighton on Sunday.
Rodri was out for eight months with an ACL injury, then suffered a setback in his bid to recover full fitness by sustaining a groin injury at the Club World Cup.
He was a second-half substitute against Tottenham before starting against Brighton. City lost both games.
In the 2023-24 season, City didn't lose any of the 34 Premier League games that Rodri played in as it won the title for a fourth straight year.
"I´m not going to come back and make the team win and win," he said. "This is a collective. When we won in the past, I needed all my teammates.
FILE - Spain's Rodri, right, challenges Germany's Emre Can during a quarter final match between Germany and Spain at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, on July 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)
"For sure I have to recover my best level ... Hopefully after the (international) break we can come back much better."
City opened the Premier League season with a 4-0 win at Wolverhampton but some might doubt whether Pep Guardiola's team has the quality to maintain a title bid up against the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal.
Rodri said: "To be honest, I don't care.
"People can think what they want. We will focus on us, work as hard as possible and let's talk at the end of the season."
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