Rodri's playful dig at Haaland after becoming Man City's Treble-clinching hero

30 August 2023 , 12:16

726     0

Rodri has issued a playful dig at Erling Haaland (Image: Getty Images)

Rodri poked a little bit of fun at Erling Haaland after the Manchester City midfielder scored the winner in the Champions League final back in June.

Pep Guardiola's side beat Inter Milan 1-0 to complete the Treble, having already lifted the Premier League and won the FA Cup a week prior. City edged Arsenal to win the top-flight title for the third successive season, before securing a 2-1 win over Manchester United in the cup final at Wembley.

However, despite scoring over 50 goals in all competitions, Haaland cut an isolated figure in both the FA Cup and Champions League final. Ilkay Gundogan scored twice in the victory over United, before Rodri stood up and became the hero in the victory against Inter.

The Spaniard struck in the second-half to secure City's first-ever Champions League winners' medal. And after scoring in that game, Rodri could not help but fire a playful dig at Haaland. When asked about netting the winner in Istanbul, Rodri said on Tuesday: "Sometimes Erling doesn't do his job."

Rodri was named in the PFA Team of the Year after an impressive campaign. He was one of five City players named in the XI, with John Stones, Ruben Dias, Kevin de Bruyne and Haaland also included. Aaron Ramsdale, Kieran Trippier, William Saliba, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane made up the side.

Pep Guardiola went back on his word after blocking last-ditch Barcelona transfer

As for City, they recorded their third straight Premier League victory to continue their 100% start with a 2-1 win over Sheffield United on Sunday. Haaland gave City the lead in the second-half after missing an early penalty, before the Blades equalised through Jaden Bogle.

Rodri scored a late winner as Manchester City beat Sheffield United 2-1 at Bramall Lane (Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

However, Rodri would end up being the match-winner once again, scoring for the second time this season with an inch-perfect first-time effort. Guardiola was absent for that game after undergoing emergency surgery on his back, with Juanma Lillo taking the reigns from the dugout.

Speaking after the win at Bramall Lane, Lillo said: "During the match I spoke to him at some moments but generally he was speaking to other members of the technical staff. He has been totally present today. If there was more space on the bench I wouldn't have sat in his seat.

"Pep's seat is Pep's seat. He was there with us the whole time. I much prefer being with Pep and especially when it's a question of health I don't enjoy this at all. When I was here before - and now - he was encouraging us all to be involved. We need his presence more than ever."

Kieran King