Nico González Focuses on His Own Path at Manchester City
Manchester City midfielder Nico González has expressed his focus on developing his own playing style rather than seeking to be a direct replacement for Rodri. González is ready to continue substituting for his Spanish teammate, Rodri, who will be absent in the next Champions League match against Villarreal. Rodri suffered a hamstring injury before the recent international break, prolonging his frustration after missing a large part of last season due to knee surgery. González, signed from Porto in January to reinforce the central defensive midfielder position, enthusiastically accepts Rodri’s advice “in every match”, but prefers not to directly compare himself to him.González is inspired by Sergio Busquets’s game, a mentor and former teammate at Barcelona. Rodri traveled to Villarreal with City, despite not being in a condition to play. Coach Pep Guardiola trusts that his influence will benefit González, who, according to him, is constantly improving his game.“I don’t pay attention to the news. It’s important for the team that he makes us play so well, but I don’t see any comparison nor do I pay much attention to those things. I try to listen and learn a lot from him,” declared González.
Nico González
Rodri established himself at Villarreal after training in their youth academy. Subsequently, he moved to Atlético de Madrid and joined City in 2019. Villarreal coach Marcelino lamented the absence of Rodri.“Regarding Nico, I have the feeling that he is improving more and more. It is not easy to arrive at a new club and play a different style than the one he played in the past, but we are very happy with his behavior and I am sure that he will improve month by month, year after year”, Guardiola commented.
Pep Guardiola
