Rodri praises Arsenal effort but highlights crucial difference with brutal reality check
Rodri believes Arsenal lacked the mentality to come out on top in the Premier League title race.
city of manchester They secured their fourth consecutive league title with a 3-1 home win against West Ham on Sunday afternoon, overtaking rivals Arsenal into first place.
The Gunners claimed a 2-1 win over Everton on the final day but ultimately finished two points behind. pep guardiolafrom the side.
Phil Foden's brace put Manchester City on their way, before Rodri, the man of the big occasion, produced a sweet effort to secure victory.
Celebrations then took over the Etihad Stadium, with City enjoying the results of their hard work during the 2023/24 campaign.
Arsenal had them close, but according to Rodri, the difference between the two teams was clear during the 0-0 draw in March.
When asked why City are still so hungry, Rodri responded optus sport: “To be honest, I think it's here (points to his head). It's the mentality.
“(There are) great players throughout the league, in all the clubs.
“Arsenal also deserves (to win), they had an incredible season, but I think the difference was here (pointing to his head again).
“When they came here, they faced us at the Etihad, I saw them and said, 'Ah, these guys don't want to beat us, they just want a draw.'
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“And that mentality, I don't think we would do it the same way.
“And we caught them. In the end, if you give us a point, we will win the last seven or eight games even though it is very difficult. So I think (winning the title) comes down to mentality.”
Arsenal's brilliance is what finally pushed City to dig deeper and, when asked if he thought City would win the title after that goalless draw, Rodri added: “We believed. But you think you did, and we know difficult it is to do.” .
“We have to go out to all the fields, the game against Tottenham we had never won there, so it is not easy to implement this.
“But every season, the coach, the players, find a way to do it. Even me, comparing my first season I came here with the current one, you grow a lot in this sense (mental strength).”
The title put City in the history books, as no team had ever won four in a row, while it was Guardiola's sixth title in seven seasons.
