'Rodri is desperate to play' - Guardiola on returning midfielder
Video credit: SNTV
Against Brighton at the Amex Stadium, Rodri made his first [Premier League](https://www.tntsports.co.uk/football/premier-league/) start for nearly a year, despite Pep Guardiola saying he would not be "really fit" until after the international break.
The Spain midfielder showed all his class in the first half, with the most touches and passes completed, but in the second half, Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler made four changes, which changed the game.
From then on, Brighton appeared the more likely team to score, and they duly did through James Milner, who became the second-oldest scorer in Premier League history from the penalty spot, and Brajan Gruda.
After those back-to-back defeats, the player of the tournament at Euro 2024 insisted it would take time for both him and City to get back to their best.
"I'm not Messi. I'm not going to come back and just make the team win and win and win," said Rodri.
"This is a collective, when we won in the past, I needed all my teammates.
"For sure I need to recover my best level and we have to look to all of ourselves. It is a collective sport. Hopefully, after the break we can be much better."
City took the lead late in the first half through Erling Haaland, who scored his 88th goal on his 100th Premier League appearance.
Brighton were struggling to break City down and Guardiola’s men seemed to be heading for an important win.
But when Hurzeler made four changes just after the hour mark – including both goalscorers – Brighton were sparked into life.
Rodri believes his side should have won the game despite not being at their best, but two "kids’ mistakes" let them down.
"I do think that we had control of the game and we were not at our best," he told Sky Sports.
"We did not create our best match, but today we should win because we conceded two big mistakes and counter-attacks.
"Some of the mistakes we are doing are kids' mistakes. You are not concentrating and paying attention.
"The reality is that we have to raise the level if we want to compete - we are not at the level for a long, long time."
Rodri was named in the Spain squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and Turkey.
Pep Guardiola will be hoping his midfielder is able to get up to speed for beyond the international break, when City face Manchester United, Napoli and Arsenal in the space of a week.
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