Manchester City midfielder Rodri has criticized the Premier League for refusing to grant his team additional rest following their FA Cup final victory, which he believes contributed to their failure to retain the league title. City secured a domestic double by defeating Chelsea at Wembley, but just three days later, they could only manage a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth, allowing Arsenal to clinch the championship with a game to spare.
Rodri's Complaints About Scheduling
Speaking to CANAL+, Rodri expressed frustration over the tight schedule. "When you play all the competitions, when you play after three days when these kind of teams have ten days to rest, it's a massive difference," he said. "We all know this but it is what it is. We have to play with these rules but at this level, having this amount of days, makes the difference." The Spaniard admitted that City lacked energy against Bournemouth because they had played a final just two days earlier. "The Premier League didn't want us to rest a little bit more but, yeah, at the end, congratulations to Arsenal, they were the better team and we will try again next season," he added.
City's Season in Perspective
Despite the disappointment, Rodri praised his teammates for their efforts throughout a demanding campaign. "Of course we know that it is done," he said. "I just want to thank all my team-mates, I think we were remarkable in the way we tried in a season of ups and downs. But in the end, we knew it was going to be difficult because it wasn't in our hands." When asked if earlier dropped points cost City the title, Rodri acknowledged the high standards of the Premier League. "The level of this league demands a lot. You drop points in many cases as they have done, Arsenal, and the two teams were there," he noted. "Nobody believed in us in January but we rose as a team and we were able to win two trophies and even fight for the Premier League. It was a good season but of course, the standards of the club, we always want more."
Future Uncertainty
Rodri also addressed reports linking him with a move to Real Madrid, as his contract enters its final year. While he did not confirm the speculation, he emphasized the need to reflect on the season. "Right now, it's a bit difficult to see these things but we will see the whole picture in a few weeks," he said. "We knew that there was a lot of players coming in, they had to adapt, and it's kind of a new era for us. But we want to succeed again, we are ambitious in this sense, and I'm proud of my team, my club, and we will try next season."
