Rodri expects Arsenal and Liverpool to be Manchester Metropolis’s largest threats as they bid to win an unprecedented fifth consecutive Premier League title.
The Cityzens have seen off a robust problem from Arsenal over the previous couple of seasons, with Liverpool, below the administration of Jurgen Klopp, Metropolis’s largest adversaries previous to that.
Klopp’s Liverpool completed as runners-up in 2018/19 with an unimaginable 97-point haul, wrestling the title away from Metropolis the next yr after enhancing to 99 factors, earlier than they once more completed second with 92 factors in 2021/22.
28-year-old Rodri, who is likely one of the favourites to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or, has performed a key function in every of Metropolis‘s 4 title successes between 2020/21 and 2023/24 and can once more be essential to Pep Guardiola’s bid to win a record-extending 5 in a row.
In an interview with ESPN, the Spaniard spoke about who Metropolis’s largest challengers will probably be this season, the place he recognised the beginning Liverpool have made since Arne Slot succeeded Klopp within the dugout. He additionally spoke extremely of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, who he tipped to be within the combine when it is all stated and finished.
“I see Liverpool very sturdy and was undecided how they have been going to reply with the goodbye of Jürgen [Klopp],” he stated. “However they reply like nothing occurred, in order that they’re at all times a risk.
“And Arsenal, I feel the final two years, yeah, there was the larger risk. Let’s examine how they do as a result of if you end up at this stage two years, it isn’t simple to maintain it.
“So huge credit score for them as a result of it isn’t simple. They push us to the boundaries and I feel it will be these two groups. However you by no means know.”
Arteta signed a brand new three-year contract at Arsenal on Thursday, committing his future to the membership till 2027, nevertheless it stays to be seen how lengthy Guardiola will stay accountable for Metropolis for.
The previous Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss is out of contract on the finish of the season, although he has hinted at a potential extension on the Etihad Stadium so long as “it is the suitable determination, not only for me, [but] for the membership.”
