Many Manchester City players have been in action during the current international tournaments taking place.
For the 2024 European Championship, 14 figures from Pep Guardiola’s ranks were selected to represent their countries in the tournament.
Having lifted another Premier League trophy at the end of last season, it comes as no surprise that so many names from the City squad have been in action over the past few weeks in Germany.
With five City players left in the tournament ahead of the semi-final round of fixtures, someone who knows what it takes to play for the Manchester club has shared his thoughts on one of those five players and what he’s done for his country in the tournament so far.
Micah Richards says Rodri has played a key role for Spain
While assessing Spain’s journey in the Euros so far ahead of their semi-final clash against France, Micah Richards had this to say about Rodri, in particular, in a recent edition of The Rest Is Football.
He said: “I think it has been backed up by the midfield, though, Spain. Rodri, we have talked about him many times before, he is just a leader, controls, dictates the play.”
Rodri has been a key player for Spain at Euro 2024
Despite missing one of Spain’s five games of the tournament through suspension, the City star has still played more minutes than any other outfield player in the squad prior to tonight’s match against France.
Having completed more passes (327) than any other Spanish player, this backs up Richards’ point about Rodri, who Darren Bent said earlier this month has emulated Sergio Busquets’s role for Spain, being the one to control the game and dictate the tempo for his side.
Taking all of that into account, there can be no denying that Rodri is a vital player for Spain and their style of play, which shouldn’t be a surprise to any City supporter.
