Rodri admits Manchester City may have to ‘change their playing style’ to accommodate their new signings, but predicts it will ‘bring better things’ with Erling Haaland set to spearhead the champions’ new-look attack
- Manchester City midfielder Rodri was speaking on the club’s new signings
- He said that City will have to adapt their playing style because of the incomings
- Erling Haaland and Kalvin Phillips are just two of City’s new recruits so far
- Manager Pep Guardiola has won four of six Premier League titles at the club
- Guardiola hasn’t won the Champions League at City, but this may be his chance
Manchester City midfielder Rodri has admitted that his side may have to adapt their style of play to suit their new signings.
City have brought in four players so far this transfer window, with forward Erling Haaland headlining the arrivals.
Kalvin Phillips, Stefan Ortega and Julian Alvarez have also joined up with the Premier League champions, and Rodri has told Sky Sports that City won’t be playing the same way this season.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri has said that Manchester City will have to adapt this year
City manager Pep Guardiola has won four Premier League titles in six years at the club
‘Sometimes it’s like, don’t touch when it goes well but of course, with the new players, you have to adapt, you have to change,’ said the Spaniard.
‘It’s going to bring better things, different things in general.’
City have won four of a possible six Premier League titles since Pep Guardiola took over in 2016 but are yet to lift a Champions League trophy, coming closest when they lost 1-0 to Chelsea in the 2020-21 final.
They’ve struggled to find a natural number nine since the departure of Sergio Aguero in 2021, with several players such as Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden having to fill the void up front.
Erling Haaland (left) and Kalin Phillips (right) have been City’s marquee signings in the window
Forwards Sterling and Gabriel Jesus have also departed this summer, joining Chelsea and Arsenal respectively.
But £51million-man Haaland is tipped to be the answer to their problems after scoring 29 goals in 30 appearances for Borussia Dortmund last season.
‘We’ve been playing three years with kind of a false nine, which it seems brought success,’ Rodri, who signed a new five-year deal at the club just eight days ago, added.
‘I think we are going to change a little bit, but let’s see how.’
Haaland is regarded as one of the best strikers in the world and scored 29 goals last season
City are yet to play any pre-season games but will kick off their preparation for the new Premier League season when they take on Club America tomorrow morning.
All new signings could feature, though Phil Foden, John Stones and Ilkay Gundogan haven’t travelled to the United States.
Aymeric Laporte is injured, so also didn’t join the touring party.
City will also face Bayern Munich in a friendly on Sunday before taking on Liverpool at Wembley for the Community Shield on July 30 in their final match before the season begins.
