Enzo Maresca has brushed off the loss of Rodri to Barcelona for £65m by stating Manchester City will search for the “new Rodri” in the same way Sergio Agüero was replaced by Erling Haaland. Rodri’s departure is a sizable blow to the club’s new manager as he embarks on a first season in charge. Yet the Italian is not fazed by the absence of a player considered one of the world’s best No 6s.
We try to find the new Rodri, it is what it is. [Before] Rodri arrived here, he didn’t win the Ballon d’Or, he didn’t win the Champions League, he didn’t win the Club World Cup. He joined the club, then he achieved many important things. I was thinking on Thursday night, when David Silva was here, everyone was worried and Kevin [De Bruyne] arrived.
When Sergio [Agüero] was here, everyone was worried [when he was going to leave] and Erling [Haaland] arrived. When they leave, you need to be good at recruiting the next one. If he is not happy, he is not going to perform in the right way,” he said.
City lost 3-0 to Arsenal in last Sunday’s Community Shield in Cardiff and before Sunday’s visit of Bournemouth for their Premier League opener, Maresca said the critical reaction to the loss had been expected. It is normal that you are upset straight after the game. We were all upset,” said the manager.
It was two days where we were not happy and now the focus has to be Bournemouth.” Maresca has been pleased with how the players are training now he is in charge and not Guardiola. When you work with the same person every day then change, it changes everything. Suddenly the director changes, me as the actor I’m still thinking in the same way as I was with the previous director but now the director is new so I need to adapt.
It’s complicated, it’s not easy. It’s not an excuse but it requires a little bit of time, but we need to compete as soon as possible.” Maresca has an ideal size for his squad. Kaden [Braithwaite], [Floyd] Samba and Ryan McAidoo.
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