Football Daily - In Focus with Rodri and Joe Hart

Episode Date: August 31, 2024

Manchester City’s Rodri joins Joe Hart to talk Guardiola, trebles & chess. He also speaks about his Spain's side Euros triumph over England and his business degree which he completed while playing for City.

BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. This is Five Live Sports. The Football Daily Podcast. Okay, Rodri, amazing to sit down with you. Very, very exciting times for you personally in your career. And I'm just looking in the background there. Talk to me about this summer. I was there in June. A big moment for the Spanish national team.

Difficult moment for me as an Englishman. How was that feeling? How was that journey? Well, first of all, thank you for having me here. Mae'n foment mawr i'r tîm cwmniol ysbrydol. Mae'n foment anodd i mi fel Llesydd. Sut oedd y teimlad hwnnw? Sut oedd y llwybr hwnnw? Wel, yn gyntaf, diolch am gael fy ngwylio yma. I mi, wrth gwrs, roeddech chi'n chwarae mor wych ar gyfer y clwb hwn. Mae llawer o hamser ac mae'n hwyl i gael eich sefyllfa gyda chi. Felly, i mi, i'w gwirionedd, yn y llwyddyn diwethaf, ac er ei fod y flwyddyn gyntaf wedi bod ddwy flynedd yn ôl, mae'n anhygo before, has been two years on a roll. Unbelievable for me in terms of individual and also as a collective I did with the team.

And now with my national team, it's a dream come true. As you know, you wear the three lion's shirt. It's the most important thing representing your country. So winning with your country is a dream come true and even though the way we did it you know like beating all the teams, all the countries we beat and even England of course in the final that we know what generation they have. I mean I said the guys before the Euros are like honestly with the team you have you could win the Euros with three different teams. So this talks about the potential of the country and football right now. So yeah, it was great.

Yeah, incredible team and you were genuinely a joy to watch in the tournament. The football that was played and you guys stamping your authority on the tournament was really impressive. But one thing that in my little bit of research that I did I've noticed that Spanish teams, club and country, you've obviously experienced the plus side of this and the negative what I'm going to get into playing against teams like Real Madrid in the finals. 27 games Spanish teams, club and country unbeaten in finals. What's the key? How do you guys do at such a level and that's me asking as an Englishman what is's the key how do you guys do at

such a level and that's me asking as an Englishman what is the key why do you guys always find a way I didn't know that the data yeah I think real mother is one thing of course they we all know the the character they show but yeah I agree with you that it might be something related with the Spanish mentality when we arrive into the finals. I don't know, it's difficult to say. I think when you play a final we just have to visualise you winning and not caring or

not being afraid of what are the consequences. I think that's in my opinion the most important thing in a final. Just give everything, don't think on the bad consequences of losing and having personality, don't change what you've done in the past that make you arrive into that stage. So I think that's the key but even though I've lost finals as you can see so you never say okay you're Spanish you win the final, it's not like this. But yeah, I think it's a culture. I always say the same. When you win, you are closer to win again.

So make sure you kind of build that culture of winning here at City we can see. So that's the most important thing, in my opinion. Yeah, and you're definitely part of that culture here. So as a player, Rodrigo, I've seen you. Me personally, I'm a failed striker. so as a player I've seen you me personally I'm a failed striker like many many defensive players we move further and further

back in the field because we just can't impact that final third and I was looking at you 50 plus goal involvements for Manchester City scoring such important goals in big moments

you look so comfortable higher up the pitch yet you choose to play that defensive midfield role which isn't as glamorous doesn't get as many accolades why do you love playing that position well uh this you have to go back as I was later remember my father one day told me you have to be midfielder because the most funny one you You kind of visualise everything. You are in touch with the ball all the time. So in terms of having fun, it was the most

funny position. And everything starts there. In terms of goals and assists and importance, it's something I've built, it's something I haven't in the past because I didn't have the worry about that. Holding mid Fielder has to play his game you know do the things that Haldimand Fielder do but not much participate on the goal and no one asks you that but One day I said why I cannot try To improve in this like I think I'm able to do this. I think I have a good shooting I think I I'm good in the last so why I cannot exploit part? And little by little I realised myself that I could do it. So it's something I built, it's something you have to go for it because what happened to me in the past is like,

okay, I don't have the responsibility of goals, so I don't touch the last third. I just, you know, be safe here, pass and it was that's it. And I think it makes a massive step up for a midfielder to have these stats. You know, like in football, of course, we all know that the last third, the goals, assists makes you be the difference. You know, I'm not saying it's my first role. Of course, I know my role and I know what I have to do. But if I can help the team in these moments,

it gives me a lot of impact in the team. As we can see, the midfielders today have more presence in the last year than in the past. So you talk about your role. When I think back to the position of a defensive midfielder, especially in the Premier League, I remember Makaleli when he first came into it. He was revolutionary. Then you looked at more recently N'Golo Kante. But you're obviously offering more than that.

And that's no disrespect to them as players. I'm just, I'm talking, I'm really focusing on you now. I'd love to know, how do you see your role as a whole in this team, in the national team, in Manchester City? What is your role? Good question. To be honest, it very very big of course. I think the Holdemey Fille is the guy on the pitch with more responsibilities in terms of things to control. You have to make sure the team works, you have to make sure no one is

lazy or distracted. When the team doesn't work, it's your fault. So you have to make sure you are kind of a coach in the pitch. So yeah, many things. I always say this, I'm not the same player when I arrive than right now. I control more things right now than in the past because I've learned, I have the experience. So it's something you can build, you don't have to be a holding midfielder, you have to control all of this. It's something you build, it's something you learn and experience is a big part of this. As you name great players in the history of the Premier League, I try as a player to be as good as defensive and as offensive. I think that's the key for a very good midfielder. So from my personal experience, especially as the game's changed, relationships on the

pitch are key. So we see you, you have to interact with the goalkeeper, the centre-backs, then you have to look forward. There's moments in games, Manchester City games especially, where the stadium goes, Edison passes the ball to you, there's two people pressing you, but the calmness and the control that the team has, you can only have that through trust. So what I'm interested to know is relationships wise, you're close on the pitch, do you have to work on that off the pitch, all the different players, the Kevins, the Edisons of this world, Ruben Diaz, John Stones, how do you have to work on that off the pitch all the different players the Kevin's the Edison's of this world Ruben Diaz John stones how do you guys how do you get on the same wavelength well first of all I have to say that my

missus sometimes want to kill me when I he's in the stadiums like don't do that fast please but yes is is what you know like the modern football works and what pet needs but yeah it's a lot of there's a lot of trust involved in this, a lot of trust on the keeper, on the centre-backs. And I don't know exactly, it's a way of years together, of course, knowing each other, knowing who can you pass that way or not. Of course, you've been a player and you know.

But yes, it's a matter of belief on your teammate. We can see, for example, there's, I remember, you remember the pass he gave on the line against Liverpool? He was like so chill. And sometimes I get mad with him because it's like, you cannot be that chill being a keeper, you know? And yeah, it's about trust, and he's the guy who trusts more on ourselves

but it's what I said about the finals, believing in what you've done that makes you succeed so and some day you will fail, some day you will miss the pass, it happened to me, I missed the pass and they regained it was a goal but the way you overcome this situation makes a difference. Yeah I've noticed that football changed a lot throughout my career and even the last three years I noticed that the trust and the repetition and the belief in each other and you have a manager here who, there's many managers maybe through your career I don't know they said if you miss a pass don don't worry, I'll take responsibility. But I feel like in this team, everybody feels safe

and they feel confident to take the risky pass. How does that feel and how do you integrate new players into feeling like that? You know, Savinho's coming in, new players coming in from all around the world. I think notoriously Manchester City players now. They take one year just to get that understanding that we are getting that trust. You're a senior player. How do you integrate players? Yes, you said every player that comes into this team knows that the mistake or the fail is not what is going to punish you. Of course, we all know we're a big team, high level, of course you need to be at a high level, but trying and missing a pass is not what Pep is going

to regret. What he's going to regret is not being brave, is not doing what we practice, and to do what we practice many, many of the times is being brave with the ball and assume that responsibility. And and yeah and this this this things makes what peps sometimes get mad is about these things it's not about missing or a child for example the people in front they say I don't care if you miss a goal or you miss a I want you to be brave to dribble to try something different on the on the box you know that's why you we we bring you here not to just pass and pass we bring you on the last to you know, that's why we bring you here, not to just pass and pass, we bring you

from the last to try to be, you know, like Sevigno did great in the last game, so this kind of personality is what Pep loves. Yeah, I think as a senior player, you know, I've watched the documentaries, I've watched you play, you really echo that and you do get that feeling that people feel relaxed and you're able to take the game to a next level. But we were talking earlier about the younger Rodri, your father saying to you, if you want to enjoy the game of football, you need to be in the middle of that pitch. When he said that to you, were you looking at other players? Were you thinking, this is what I want to be, this is how I want to play? Were you looking at similar sort of players or were you very open with the game of football?

I know a lot of examples that they, as you can know, they start playing one position and they change and then at the end they become professional and now they're different and they never play. This never happened to me to be fair. I always know that because my physical conditions, because I'm not fast, because I cannot dribble, because I cannot play winger. So it's something I've known, my own body, my skills, what I'm better, what I'm worst, and that was the perfect position for me. Of course, I've been more holding my feet, I've been more number eight or number 10,

depends on the age, but in the middle always. And this is, I think, is advantage, because it's a position you know since you since you are 6, 7, 8. The problem I see if you play left back and then at the age of 15 you turn, let's say, holding midfielder. It's like there's not many years you can practice in that role. So, yeah, for me it's always been the same, that position. Amazing. So, I've heard that from a young age, you can correct me if I'm wrong, but you played chess to a very high level, you know, an incredibly strategic game. I'd imagine something that you enjoy.

Is that game and that strategy something that you bring into your football game? And if so, how do you implement that or how do you implement other things that you like to do in life to help you take control of that football field? I always try to, well, lots of times with the kids when they ask me, I try to show them that football, in my case, wasn't the first option. I always be in mind because my father's cause, the family is the most important part in this sense, what they teach you, what you learn about them. And I always learn that studies and growing yourself is the first option. And when you get old and still football has a chance, maybe, yeah,

we can talk about this, but I always have in mind that that's why when I was 16 and I finished high school, you call here a school, my father said, you are going to do a degree. You're going to go to the university no matter what happens. And this is what I did. And then when I stopped playing the first division, I cannot say, okay, now I know I can live up from football. I can stop studying. But even though I finished my degree and something I'm very proud of it, and it's not only about cultivating your future, it's also about cultivating yourself in the process. The people you met, I learned English because of this, your head is better,

it helps me in that time when I start playing for the division to don't be over saturated on football, have other things help me and something I really recommend to the kids that are growing, never left the studies because it makes you better no matter what you do. And they will say, yeah, but it's a lot of work. It's like, yeah, I got it. But if I can do it, everyone can do it. So this is my opinion on this.

This is 5 Live Sports. The Football Daily Podcast. There are a few sibling rivalries that have gripped us quite like that of Liam and Noel Gallagher. This is history! He had a row with me, we had a fight and that was it. And then I trashed the place, yeah. The rise and fall of Oasis, a band committed to the rock and roll dream. I mean, we're angels, but we're not as bad as people make out. Join me, Steve Lemack. And me, Joe Wiley, as we not only celebrate the music

that Oasis made, but also delve into the complex and unruly rivalry. There's only so many, like, olive branches you can give someone, you know what I mean? But that's life. A band with your brother, that would become the Achilles heel in the end. The rise and fall of Oasis. Listen now on BBC Sounds.

This is Five Live Sports. The Football Daily Podcast. Listen on BBC Sounds. You talk about children, you know, they want to get to know you. They want to ask you questions. Social media. It seems like everybody in the world has a platform. They're involved in social media. You know the guys in the dressing room some guys maybe not personally but they have management

teams representing them you've chosen to stay away from social media which I totally respect and from this small bit of time that I've spent with you I think I can understand why but children out there want to know what it's like to be Rodri you've said I study I work hard you know it's it's not hard it's attainable how do people how do people know you how do they get to know you and what are the reasons why you're not interacting on social media well first of all what I what I can say is a decision I made, very early. It wasn't normal for a kid my age to have that personality to say no, because normally you do what the other kids do.

And I remember my age was the age of the start of these platforms. I said, no, I don't need this. I have my surround of friends. I go to the park. I hang with them in the village or wherever. I don't need to find new friends on the net and it's something I said not in the beginning and I keep it until the end so it's not a decision I made three years ago so for me it was easy to don't have it because I never need the feeling the problem today I think in this society is they

they kind of say you oh you, you need this, you need this and at the end you say do I need all of these things? No, I don't really need these things. And this is something I really appreciate of my decision and what I can say is I like to live life how it is, you know, the real life. Kind of, I met you, I never met you, and we're chilling here today, and in real life, not today you messaged me, or you know, these kind of things for me. The relationships, face to face, are the real ones.

And to be fair, it went good for me. My surroundings are very good, very healthy. I'm very happy for that. But I understand also the good points of the good things about social media. I'm not saying they're terrible. But the only thing I would suggest is like, do you really need them? If you really need them, go ahead. No, I completely agree with you.

And that's such a refreshing point of view. And it's, I know you say it's an easy decision for you but it's a strength and it's a it's a huge strength and it allows you to be present and play the moment and it makes me think about the 74 game unbeaten run that you went on with Manchester City that's a huge individual achievement I know it helped that the teams you play for an incredible team. But things like with those, not having those distractions, is that something that allows you to take every single game,

every single training session, focus on those sessions, focus on those moments, live in those moments? Because you're used to winning. That's not you being arrogant, you're used to winning. But when those numbers started to get towards 40, 45 games, how did that make you feel? Did that make you change or did that make you double down on your preparation? Well maybe you're right, maybe we never know, but maybe this kind of let's say distractions

sometimes you don't know and make you don't be as focused as you will do. We never know, for me it works. And yeah, as you said, the incredible run in terms of not losing, I mean, it's something I never planned to be honest. It's something that became natural to, of course, as you said before, being in this team is always more easy because we have this mentality of winning. But even in your inside kind of draw in this team, it's like losing. So when you have that mentality, losing is very difficult because when you draw a game,

you feel that hurry to overcome the situation. So imagine if you're losing a game. So I think that's the most important thing. Of course, I know one day I will lose. I know it's part of the sport. I'm not saying the opposite. But being confident on this winning mentality, going to the next and the next and the next and always doing

the same kind of helped me to go and catch this run. Yeah, it's an incredible mindset to be in and respect to you for that. So just a little bit of fun. Rodri the player, incredibly focused, incredibly organised, a great team-mate. If I were to walk into that dressing room and ask Kyle Walker or Kevin De Bruyne, can you describe Rodri the person? What do you think these guys would have to say? Well, maybe they would say more things that the people know. I think they all kind of agree that I'm a very honest guy and with a big heart in the same so I want to help everyone and

not two faces you know with scum face. I have a lot of character they would say. What else? I think they would say I'm very funny guy in some moments. Of course in here I try to take care of my image and being, you know, but I'm a kind of, I like enjoying life, I like being funny, doing silly things sometimes. I think they would say this. And I'm the target, quite the target of all the jokes in the team, so I think they would

say that. I think that's a really important role to have because you need to be really confident in yourself. And in a dressing room, if someone like you, who's a main player, and they can have fun with you, trust me, that gives everyone that freedom. I talked about those new players, it immediately calms them down. Oh, the biggest guy, I can have fun with him. So that's an incredible part of this team.

Conversations about Ballon d'Ors. Lothar Matthäus, 1990, the last defensive midfielder to win the Ballon d'Or. Since then, players we've talked about, they've been influential in championship winning teams, huge players. Why is that position not getting the world accolade that it deserves? acolodiad sydd ei dderbyn. Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n ymwneud â'r hyn rydyn ni wedi siarad amdano. Yn ôl y rôl honno, roedd yn fwy defensif na'n ofensif. Ac rydyn ni i gyd yn gwybod bod y ffutbol, y marketing o'r ffutbol, beth mae'r ffans yn ei hoffi am y ffutbol, yw gofynu golau a chyflawniadau. Ac rwy'n credu oherwydd hyn, mae'r penderfyniadau oedd o hyd i rhan o And I think because of this makes the decisions always to be part of the strikers, wingers,

forward midfielders. I think that's what I think about this. And also because the role of centre backs and the keeper, as you can know or the holding midfielders, a SPAC as you go is less representative, not representative, how do you say, less glamorous. But the people who play that position, we really think that we can value the importance of that role and we can value that, oh, if this guy makes this team being the champions of the treble or wherever, maybe he's the key part of all of this and maybe he deserves. I'm not talking about me, I'm talking a lot of players in

the past. I could say many Spanish ones, I could say English ones, I could say many of them. But at the same time, individual players, it's not something that you go home sad about this because we all know that in football we play for winning collectively and individual trophies are consequences of your work, of what they think about your work, but it's not our aim to win individual trophies. It's something you love because they recognise your work and that's my mentality. And I'll tell you something, midfielders are the most, they care most about the team. So if you ask a midfielder, or do you rather to win as collectively or individual, they will say you collectively.

Maybe a striker is more selfish, has to be more selfish in his personality and cares more about these kind of trophies. But midfielders in general, I would say no. Yeah, I agree. And being a defensive player myself, and I don't think that's us disrespecting the strikers of this world because they need to be selfish. But you've really put yourself in this position, right? Okay, so we're talking multiple Premier League champions, but the Ballon d'Or, it closes

down to a calendar year, an incredible Premier League, a European Championship with the Spain national team, player of the tournament. So there's that recognition, player of the tournament in that Spanish winning team. Is it time for a change? Well, I said that after the final, I would love that a Spanish player win it. I think we deserve all these years because we have the best period in our history and we didn't want it. Of course, because we have the two beasts we have with Cristiano Messi that they kind of...

Sometimes it's difficult to say, no, this guy is not the best. They were the best, in my opinion, in his career. And we have lots of great players. And also we've managed the best football sometimes in some periods. So don't have a Ballon d'Or Spanish. We just have one. Maybe you don't know Luis Suarez in the very, very beginning. We just have one. So I think Spain should have a recognition and not saying it's me. But yeah, let's say, let's see. It's something that I cannot control.

It's something that everything that will come will be accepted and glad for. Because for me, being in that speech or in that conversation, imagine like this is already a compliment and a dream. So whatever it comes, I will take it. And yeah, I think, as I said to you before, the last two years, I've been very important in my role in the team. And it's something that makes me so, so proud of. dweud wrthych chi, y ddwy flynedd diwethaf rwyf wedi bod yn bwysig iawn yn fy rôl yn y tîm ac mae'n rhywbeth sy'n fy wneud yn fawr iawn. Wel, mae'n rhaid i chi. Mae'n sicr y byddwch yn haeddu i fod yn y sgwrs hwnnw. Rwyf am symud ymlaen i'r

Llywodraeth Cymru. O brofiad personol, roeddwn i yn rhan o'r tîm Manchester City sy'n cymryd ymgyrch gyntaf i'r Llywodraeth Cymru. Roedd hynny'n gyflawniad gwych. Roedd angen i'r City team that first qualified for the Champions League and that was that was a great achievement the owner's vision was always to win the Champions League and then we realized straight away this is different you know on paper maybe we're stronger maybe we have better experience but to actually become the team that you guys have become to take that step you should be so proud of yourselves. Manchester City, Champions League winners, 2023. You scored that winning goal. How does it feel to have your name in history with this football club? You put Manchester City on the global stage. There's no getting away. I remember pre-seasons I played in 2015. We'd won the Premier League and we'd go and play in South Africa for example against

a local team. There'd be more Manchester United, Tottenham fans at the game. I watched you guys pre-season. Everywhere you go you're loved. There's Rodri on the back, there's Haaland on the back. How does it feel to be part of that journey and how do you feel connected to the badge that's on your chest? Well of course first of all being part of the history of this club for me makes me more a sut ydych chi'n teimlo'n cysylltiedig â'r bwyd ar eich chest? Wel, wrth gwrs, yn gyntaf, bod yn rhan o hanes y clwb hon i mi,

mae'n fy modd mwy na'n ddigon ffodd. Gael cael golau'r gol hwn sy'n gwneud y tîm hwn, a'r hyn rwyf wedi'i weld yn y gorffennol, ac nawr rwy'n ymwneud â'r cwbl, ac mae'n fy mhrofiad, mae'n fy teulu, ac mae'n ffordd o of being champions of Europe and bringing the city and Manchester City into this history makes me so proud and so happy about also about these lads that many of them have tried for the last seven, eight years and as you can know how tough it is because it's a different competition. You need the experience to know

how to win it and I think now we have that experience. It's not about playing good, it's not about being better on paper, it's about moments. It's about, in my opinion, being solid, very solid, don't concede and being very efficient on front. Knowing that when you have to go at your best, when you can rest, you know, in this feeling. And Real Madrid, for example, in this sense, I always said it, in the bad moments, you see them struggling. I don't know, they go, I remember the game, they go against Liverpool and they were 2-0 down. And I saw their faces, I was like, these guys are not worried. And I was saying to the lads, guys, you've seen their faces, like they're not kind of... They did OK, we will overcome this situation, don't worry.

So this calm, of course, gives you the experience. But it's tricky in this sense. I couldn't explain. I think it's something you have to live. And when you win it, you realize how tough it is, how tough it is. Because we won that final. I remember on paper, let's say we were favorites but in the game you're going to the final or like they could win it and it was by this

detail that we wanted so yeah it's very very tricky okay so you're winning regularly you're established you've won every domestic title you can possibly win you've just won a European title with your Spanish national team. 28 years old, everything is there for you. How do you go to that next level? What more do you want from this game? Well I always say there's always something you can improve, something you can win, something, goals you have on your mind. Of course when I start playing professionally I never thought that this was going to happen to be fair. But it's going step by step, trying to make yourself

believe that you can reach the next level, the next level, the next level. And then football just gives you that. If you reach that level and you do hard work, if you are consistent, if you are loyal to your values, football just gives you. Of course I've lost more than I win, but when I first started in Villarreal I never thought that this was going to happen, I was going to win a Euros or a Champions League. But you know you move to Atletico, then you move here, you surround the best players in the world, you say to yourself, yeah, now I can win. Let's go for it.

And when you won for a one, you won twice, you won third, you won fourth. And this is how it works. I know that I've quite won everything, but I want to do it again. This is my mentality. Otherwise, why I should keep playing? Because I could say, yeah, I stayed my level here and I'm fine with this, but I wouldn't find any motivation every day. And this is what makes me keep going and keep playing until the end of my career. How is the football right now? Maybe

it's in three years because the amount of games we have is crazy. I hope not. But yeah, until it is, being proud with you and one more every day. There's only so much you can plan. And I'm sure that you do lots of planning pre-game, Pep Guardiola. So how much of you is pre-planned in what you do? Well, I always said this, there is a plan for the game and then there is a game. So sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't work. I really think that football is a very passionate game. What this means, this means that the game can change in every moment and there is a lot of feelings involved.

So tactics are important, but also what you bring into the game to overcome situations is also important. So the plan is there, of course we all know that the team we're playing is all based on movements, patterns, go here, go there, it's a very important part, but at the same time most of the things we've won. This was very important and the speech and talking and the sentimental thing and yeah, in the game I try to be kind of the coach. I'm not Pep in the pitch in that sense because he overthink the situations and the thing and I'm more simple in that thing sometimes, sometimes. But you have to make sure that everything works, so go here, go there and also analyze the teams because this is

what I said, like there's one plan and there's another thing what is on the pitch and maybe the teams change and they say they start with five and then they change with four and I have to be okay they change four now we have to instead of being three in the back we have to do two and one here and something I've learned and then my first year I was a disaster I was like I don't even know what you're talking me about just let me play football but it's something you you managed to learn okay I'm a final question Rodri's on fire how does that how does that make you feel because I see that song with so much passion

and maybe it's not necessarily a song that you knew before, but how does that make you feel? Well, all of this started in the celebration of the Champions League. We were in the cup, with the trophy. In the dressing room, of course, happy, dancing and Jack started, Jack Grealish was the first one, Rodri is on fire, and they were following it, and of course, I think they would post it on the media and it became massive. It became that massive that I go in summer to wherever, Costa Rica or wherever, and they're waiting me on the hotel singing that song. It's like, oh my goodness. So I think, thanks to Jack, I became even more famous because of course these

songs, all the kids, all the people, they love it. And yeah, it became massive. I cannot regret it. Rodri, that was incredible. It was, from a personal point of view great getting to know you I'm really excited to see where to see where the rest of this season takes you stay fit stay healthy and good luck

thank you very much