Never-before-heard insight into Rodri’s Champions League winning-goal revealed by Manchester City man himself

Rodri has provided a never-before-heard insight into his thinking ahead of scoring the winning goal to claim the 2023 UEFA Champions League trophy for Manchester City.

Success in the Turkish megacity of Istanbul marked a historic Treble success for Pep Guardiola and his playing squad, becoming only the second side to achieve the historic feat after rivals Manchester United in 1999.

Following on from a Premier League success over Arsenal, an FA Cup final victory over Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United, City looked to defensive midfield mainstay Rodri when needed the goalscoring spark deep into the second-half at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in 2023.

Rodri wrote his name into the history books both at Manchester City and in European football, scoring the decisive goal to claim the honour ahead of the Italian giants and bringing the Champions League trophy back to the Etihad Stadium for the first time.

Speaking exclusively to The Players’ Tribune in recent days, Rodri has offered a fascinating insight into his thinking during the fractions and seconds leading up to his historic UEFA Champions League-winning goal in Istanbul.

“Even when I scored the goal in the Champions League final in 2023, it was not a ‘calculation.’ It was a feeling, from 20 years of football, since I was playing in the garden,” Rodri admitted. “The second before Bernardo put in the cross, I was actually very far away from the play.

“On the TV replay, you can’t even see me. There was really no chance of the ball coming to me. I should have stayed still. But I took one step forward toward the box. I don’t know why. I wasn’t thinking about it.

“Because nine times out of 10 — maybe 99 times out of 100 — when Bernardo crosses the ball, it’s not going to come my way.  But this voice told me, ‘This time is going to be the one time.’ I took a step forward. The ball was deflected. If I don’t take that one step, it’s already too late.”

Rodri then broke down the final seconds into a fascinating run of words, breaking down his thinking as he stepped up towards the loose ball that would ultimately slam past a helpless Andre Onana in the Inter goal.

The Manchester City midfielder continued, “I saw the ball bouncing toward me. And I can tell you everything that flashed through my mind:

“It’s here. What do I do?
“Hit it hard — boomba
“OK, but wait. You will probably have one chance all game.
“Just get it on target.
“You’re out in the garden.
“Just pass the ball into the net.
“It’s here. Pass it.”

Rodri will be hoping to add to his staggering collection of collective silverware with the ultimate individual award this Autumn, with the Spaniard being widely considered as a favourite to claim the illustrious Ballon d’Or.

The European Championship winner with Spain in the summer will insist upon team awards and wins with the City squad being his main priority, however the opportunity to become the first defensive midfielder to claim the prize since Lothar Matthäus will be tempting.