Former Manchester United and Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves sang one Manchester City player’s praises.
During his playing career, Hargreaves was a brilliant holding midfielder.
The 43-year-old notably won two Champions League trophies — his first one in 2001 at Bayern Munich and his second one as a Manchester United player in 2008.
Hargreaves also joined Manchester City in 2011 but due to playing in just one Premier League game that season, he was not considered eligible to get a winner’s medal at the end of the side’s title-winning campaign.
While injuries blighted his career, the all-action midfielder was a fantastic player in the middle of the park — renowned for his engine and excellent right foot.
In today’s day and age, there are several top players in Owen Hargreaves’ position such as Rodri, Declan Rice, Aurelien Tchouameni, Martin Zubimendi and more.
- READ MORE: Who is Rodri? Get to know Man City’s modest midfield maestro who won a Champions League final
Owen Hargreaves makes fresh claim about Man City’s Rodri
On FIVE’s official YouTube channel, the pundit was quizzed about which player stands out to him in the defensive midfield position nowadays.
Owen Hargreaves instantly singled Rodri out, making an interesting claim about how he comes across as a manager on the pitch.
“Oh, Rodri’s the best, isn’t he? I mean, Rodri’s like, he’s like a coach on the pitch. So, Rodri’s an amazing player.”
Rodri has a tendency to coach his team in games
After Spain’s 4-1 thrashing of Georgia in the Round of 16 at Euro 2024, Luis de la Fuente likened the Manchester City midfielder to a “computer” — stating that he helps his teammates play as well guide them in how to manage their emotions and difficult moments during games.
There was a moment after the Spanish were trailing 1-0 during the contest when the £62.5 million man gestured towards his teammates to calm down and play the game at their own pace.
Often, for City as well, Rodri gives his teammates the same instructions — either by making similar gestures or by barking orders at them.
The six-time Premier League winner comes across as a coach in the making — due to his innate understanding of the game and being a “leader”, as Micah Richards described the former Atletico Madrid maestro.
Due to the fact that like any number six, Rodri can picture the entire game in front of him, he, much like Pep Guardiola and Xabi Alonso often used to as players seamlessly coaches his team; a sign of a world-class defensive midfielder.
