Rodri, Manchester City’s midfield star, criticized the team’s performance after their 2-1 loss to Brighton in the third round of the English Premier League on Sunday.

Rodri said after the match, “It’s a disappointing loss because we came here to win, but we haven’t reached our level yet. The only way to regain our form is to reflect on ourselves and review things. That’s the reality. We started the match well, but we declined in the second half.”

He added, “We gave Brighton, who were playing at home, the opportunity. They pressed us, and we made two serious mistakes, losing 2-1. I have nothing more to explain what happened.”

He explained, “We are missing our usual level. Call it what you like, the team is changing, and of course, new players need to adapt, but changing things remains difficult. I don’t mean to make excuses, but we have to face ourselves and make sure this way is not the right path to success. We must use the international break to free our minds and come back stronger.”

Rodri justified the loss by saying, “We controlled the match but were not at our best. We didn’t create many chances and conceded two goals from serious mistakes due to childish errors.”

He continued, “We know Brighton’s playing style well, and it’s easy to blame everyone when losing. We all share responsibility and must raise our level if we want to compete for the league title.”

The Spanish star, winner of the 2024 Ballon d’Or for best player in the world, added, “I’m not Messi, so victories won’t return just because I come back to the team. We are a collective team, and when we were winning before, I needed my teammates’ help. Certainly, I need to regain my form, but I emphasize that football is a team sport, and victories are not tied to my return. We hope to improve after the break.”

Rodri concluded, “I don’t care about people’s explanations for Manchester City’s two consecutive losses in the first three league rounds. We focus on ourselves, work as hard as possible, and will talk at the end of the season.”