Rodri: Liverpool are the best team I have faced

[TLW]

Man City midfielder Rodri has played against his fair share of quality teams in his career to date but according to the 23 year-old, Liverpool stand out above all others.

The Spanish international who came through the ranks at Villarreal and Atletico Madrid, is currently in his first season in English Football, but he has seen enough for of the European Champions to be mightily impressed.

The Echo(via Goal) reported Rodri as saying

“On an individual basis I can say that Liverpool are the best team I have faced.

“They dominate at both ends of the field, they are very aggressive.

“ They dominate the lines well and that makes them a fearsome team.

But despite sitting 14 points behind the Reds on the table, the holding midfielder believes that there is still hope for the reigning champions. 

“They are very good, but anyone can beat them, so we are going to fight until the end.

“If we focus on Liverpool too much, we are wrong. 

“We would be better looking at ourselves and play as we did at Atletico under Simeone, game by game.

“You can't stop competing and that's what [Pep] Guardiola instils in us every day, that every game is a final."

 

This mindset was in stark contrast to his teammate Ilkay Gundogan who virtually raised the white flag earlier in the week.

“It's so far and a difficult season for us. There's already a huge gap in the Premier League between Liverpool and us. 

“We can't deny that the title race is already over for us. 

“We have to compete for the Champions League again next season and that's disappointing to be honest.

 

(It's) so early in the season to have such a huge gap and is not something we are used to.

“ No-one says if you are not successful in the Premier League then you can't be successful in the Champions League. 

“I think in the Champions League there are still all chances open."

No matter what thought process and potential mind games that come from the Blue side of Manchester, don’t expect Jürgen Klopp and his players to be caught up in it.

 

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[DaveTucker]

“If we focus on Liverpool too much, we are wrong. 

“We would be better looking at ourselves and play as we did at Atletico under Simeone, game by game.

 

For him to have to mention his previous manager suggests even their players are aware of Guardiola's obsession with us. Must be a bit demoralising to come in having fought back to win from behind and instead of focusing on their achievement he's sulking about our own come back.