⚽ Rodri: There Is No Comparison Between Flick and Guardiola
Spanish midfielder Rodri, who plays for Barcelona and captains Spain, discussed the differences he has experienced between Hansi Flick, Barcelona’s current head coach, and Pep Guardiola, his former manager at Manchester City.
During an interview with “Cadena COPE,” Rodri was asked about similarities between the two coaches but quickly emphasized that their approaches are very different.
“Not at all. There is no similarity between them,” Rodri said.
🏋️ Rodri Was Surprised by Barcelona Training
The Spain midfielder explained that his first experience with Barcelona was very different from what he had expected, particularly from a physical perspective.
Rodri said he had expected training sessions to focus more heavily on possession and passing, but he was surprised by the intensity of the physical work from the beginning.
“When I first arrived, I thought I was coming to Barcelona, where we would do passing and possession drills, and then they put us through four days of intense training. I thought to myself: What have I gotten myself into?” he said jokingly.
🔥 Intense Physical Work Under Flick
Rodri added that the Barcelona coaching staff placed him and the other new arrivals through a demanding physical program that included intensive training sessions and gym work.
He explained that the approach was different from what he had previously experienced and suggested that the coaching staff wanted to impose its own physical methodology on the new players.
🧠 Flick and Guardiola Have Different Preparation Philosophies
Rodri also discussed the difference between Flick and Guardiola when it comes to physical preparation and finding the required match rhythm.
He explained that Guardiola believed competition and matches themselves helped players reach the necessary rhythm, while Flick takes a different approach to this aspect.
“Pep believed that competition gives you rhythm, while Hansi is completely different. He pushed those of us who joined the team later very hard,” Rodri said.
The midfielder confirmed that the physical side of football was one of the biggest surprises following his move to Barcelona, particularly because of the intensity of the training sessions.
🏃 Rodri Discusses Barcelona and Real Madrid’s Speed
The conversation also turned to the physical side of Barcelona’s game after journalist Juanma Castaño pointed out that the Catalan club currently ranks second among the fastest teams in La Liga.
Rodri responded: “Well, there is room for improvement in that area.”
When asked which team ran the least, Rodri initially tried to avoid answering before jokingly saying: “You tell me, you tell me... Real Madrid?”
⚡ Rodri: Running Is Important in Modern Football
Rodri stressed that modern football is closely connected to a team’s ability to run and move effectively, although he emphasized that it is not simply about covering distance.
“I think modern football is closely linked to teams that run more, but you have to run efficiently and in the right way. The two things are connected; if you run, you have more options,” he said.
📊 Rodri’s Numbers at Barcelona
Rodri continues working toward full physical fitness after joining Barcelona without completing a full preseason.
The midfielder has made seven official appearances for the club and recorded a 94.2% passing accuracy, while averaging 62.71 minutes per match.
Flick has been managing Rodri’s minutes gradually as the midfielder works toward reaching his best physical and technical condition.
🇪🇸 Rodri With the Spain National Team
The Barcelona midfielder is currently focused on international duty with Spain before returning to his club for a demanding run of fixtures.
The international break provides another stage in Rodri’s efforts to regain his best level after his move to Barcelona, with his fitness expected to improve progressively.
🏆 Rodri Chooses Paris Saint-Germain Match
After the international break, Barcelona are scheduled to face two major opponents, Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and Real Madrid in La Liga.
When Rodri was asked which match he would choose between PSG and Real Madrid, he selected the game against the French side, describing the European champions as the toughest opponent in his view.
“You will face the European champions, the best team in recent years, and then you face Real Madrid in the Clasico... Well, I’ll choose the match against Paris. They are the best team at the moment,” Rodri said.
🔥 Rodri Faces Major Challenges With Barcelona
Rodri now faces a demanding stretch with Barcelona as he continues adapting to his new team and gradually rebuilding his physical and technical sharpness.
The upcoming fixtures will provide major tests for the Spanish midfielder, particularly with Barcelona preparing to face some of their strongest domestic and European opponents.
