An underrated aspect of Manchester City’s 2021/22 season is how several figures associated with the club have proved their doubters wrong.
For starters, Pep Guardiola managed to mastermind City to a successive Premier League title without the presence of a natural striker.
Additionally, many supporters had brandished Kevin De Bruyne as past his best during the first half of the previous term, where it seemed like his string of injuries had finally caught up to him.
However, the Belgian made a mockery of such claims by emerging as arguably the best player in the Premier League during the second half of the campaign.
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Similarly, Bernardo Silva made a return to his brilliant best after two campaigns where many felt he had failed to meet expectations.
It’s safe to say that despite all that has been said, there is no redemption arc that is a match for Rodri’s last season.
Since his arrival in 2019, the common criticism involving the former Atletico Madrid man has been that he lacked the quality to cement his place as Fernandinho’s long-term successor.
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During the 2021/22 campaign, the Spaniard put such doubts to bed by emerging as arguably the standout defensive midfielder in world football.
What separated the 26-year-old from the rest of his peers was his penchant for stepping up during the biggest moments.
From Rodri’s miraculous block in City’s 3-3 draw against Liverpool, his last-gasp winner against Arsenal on New Year’s Day, as well as his crucial equaliser against Aston Villa, there is plenty of evidence to justify the aforementioned statement.
However, he somehow failed to make the cut in the 2021/22 PFA Premier League Team of the Year.
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The understated midfielder reacted to the snub by saying, “Honestly, I don’t pay much attention to individual awards.
"It did surprise me - but I accepted it. It’s part of the game, part of sport, and I just want to do the same as I did last year because it was incredible.
"For me, the most important thing is collective achievements, like the Premier League.
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"The rest is just a secondary part of football. Of course, we all like to win awards but it’s not part of my ambition,” he explained, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News.
The Spanish international also went on to profess his desire of becoming more of a leader in the City side moving forward.
“Manchester City don't have many leaders - players like Vincent Kompany, David Silva, Sergio Agüero, Fernandinho are gone.
"We have to take that role on. Ruben [Dias] has done it. I feel it can be my role. That’s where I can improve,” he revealed, as quoted by the Mail.
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With Rodri clearly evolving as both a player and a person, it came as no surprise that the Premier League champions tied him down to a long-term contract till 2027 recently.
Topics: Manchester City, Premier League, Rodri
Srinivas Sadhanand