Pep Guardiola hails Nico Gonzalez as 'mini Rodri' after Manchester City thrash Newcastle before Real Madrid clash
ByTNT Sports
Published 16/02/2025 at 09:17 GMT
Rodri's season-threatening injury early this season left a significant gap in Manchester City's midfield. Speaking after Saturday's 4-0 win over Newcastle, Pep Guardiola suggested new signing Nico Gonzalez could be a "mini Rodri" - just in time for their UEFA Champions League play-off second leg against Real Madrid, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola hailed Nico Gonzalez as a "mini Rodri" after his side’s 4-0 win over Newcastle United on Saturday.
The win left City fourth in the Premier League, on course for UEFA Champions League football, and dealt a blow to their rivals Newcastle, with Eddie Howe’s men now trailing by three points.
After a difficult first half of the season, exacerbated by the absence of Ballon d'Or-winning midfielder Rodri, City spent big in the winter transfer window.
One player to arrive was Omar Marmoush, with the former Eintracht Frankfurt man scoring a hat-trick on Saturday, while midfielder Gonzalez was brought in from Porto.
He impressed against Newcastle and after struggling to find a suitable stand-in for Rodri, Guardiola said Gonzalez reminded him of his injured compatriot.
"We were really good," Guardiola told BBC Sport. "Good energy up front. Nico Gonzalez helped us a lot. I was really pleased because we needed him. It has been a tough three months.
"He is our mini Rodri. He has a huge presence, his pace, and his time at the Barcelona academy, it is all about the ball and positioning. He has the desire to have success in the Premier League, he is here to prove himself."
Gonzalez’s success is a morale boost and a potentially vital development as City look to overturn their 3-2 deficit against Real Madrid on Wednesday.
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The match at the Bernabeu, shown live on discovery+ and TNT Sports, will see the winners go through to the Champions League knockout rounds.
HOW TO WATCH REAL MADRID V MANCHESTER CITY
Real Madrid host Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu in the Champions League on Wednesday, February 19.
Kick-off is at 20:00 UK time, with live coverage on TNT Sports 1 commencing at 19:00.
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Real Madrid v Manchester City will be live on TNT Sports 1 with coverage from 19:00 UK time on February 19 ahead of kick-off at 20:00.
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Watch Premier League, Champions League and Europa League football on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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