Rodri has questioned Arsenal’s killer instinct after Manchester City pipped them to the Premier League crown.
City became the first side to win four successive top-flight titles in the history of English football on Sunday as they held off the Gunners’ challenge by beating West Ham 3-1 in their final game.
It was City’s ninth straight victory since a goalless draw with the Gunners at the end of March that left them in third place behind the Londoners and Liverpool.
When they came here, I saw them and (thought) these guys just want to draw.— Rodri
Rodri feels the difference between the sides was evident in that stalemate, when Arsenal played a containing game.
The midfield linchpin told Optus Sport: “It’s the mentality. Great players are all over the leagues, all over the clubs, (at) Arsenal also.
“They did an unbelievable season but I think the difference was in here (head).
“When they came here, when they faced us at the Etihad, I saw them and (thought) these guys do not want to beat us. They just want to draw.
“That mentality – we wouldn’t do it the same way.”
City’s latest great achievement came after last season’s treble success and next week they will bid to become the first English side to win back-to-back domestic doubles.
Rodri said: “We’re so happy, we’re so excited with what we achieved, but the repercussions of what we’ve done, to change the history of the club, I think we will only realise in a few years.
“It’s the most special because nobody ever did this. We came from last season winning everything, but trying to build again, finding the hunger to win again, I think is the toughest thing in football.”
City went into their final game of the season at the Etihad Stadium with a two-point lead over Arsenal and knowing victory would clinch the title.
The party began early when their player of the season Phil Foden fired a shot into the top corner after less than two minutes and then doubled the advantage 16 minutes later.
Mohammed Kudus briefly dampened the mood with a stunning overhead kick but Rodri himself, last season’s Champions League final match-winner, settled any nerves by driving in City’s third just before the hour.
The Spain international, who has not lost a match all season, said: “We have the experience of all these years and we tried to stay calm.
“With the first goal of Phil, everything came, ‘OK, now we can start playing’. It gave us a lot of confidence.
“But at 2-1 we were one goal away from losing everything. It’s not easy to play in those situations.
“When I scored, I was like, ‘Yes, finally, we can go through the game’. It was great. We did it finally. It finishes in a good way.”
