The day after Rodri won the Ballon d’Or, Pep Guardiola spoke out in a press conference about the controversy surrounding his midfielder’s victory. The Manchester City coach ended up attacking Real Madrid and Vinicius Jr, who are apparently obsessed with individual awards.
Pep Guardiola makes no secret of his pride. In the wake of Rodri’s Ballon d’Or triumph, the Manchester City manager is delighted with the success of his player, whose performances were a highlight of the previous season. The Spanish midfielder, who played a pivotal role in the Skyblues’ historic treble win, has received well-deserved recognition in the eyes of his coach. “Congratulations to Rodri and all his family. This is incredible news for him and for Manchester City as a whole,’ said the Catalan coach at a press conference on Tuesday.
For the Spanish coach, the award is a source of motivation for Rodri, whom he hopes will continue in the same vein. Indeed, the award is more than an individual accolade: it symbolises the collective efforts of the Manchester City team, of which Rodri is a pillar.
‘If Real Madrid don’t want to congratulate Rodri, that’s fine…’ says Pep Guardiola.
Pep Guardiola, who did not want to get involved in the controversy surrounding Rodri’s coronation, has finally spoken his mind. Asked about Real Madrid’s notable absence from the gala, the Manchester City coach initially tried to be diplomatic, even if his message seemed to be a jab at the Madrid club.
“There’s nothing to say. If they don’t want to go, they don’t go… if they don’t want to congratulate, they don’t congratulate. That’s fine. Manchester City are not there to judge what other clubs decide, what they should do and where. For us, last season, Haaland won the treble… he scored more than 50 goals, and I said to him: ‘To be among the nominees for the Ballon d’Or, you must be very, very happy’. I think Rodri went there and I always told him the same thing: ‘ If you’re in the top two, three or four, that’s exceptional. It means you’ve had an incredible year and you must be very, very satisfied. …” he said.
Pep Guardiola, a man with his feet on the ground, preferred to put such decisions into perspective. He philosophically reminds us that the Ballon d’Or, while coveted, should not be a goal in itself for players and clubs like Real Madrid, but simply a stage in their journey.
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