In the Zone: Rodri's all-round contribution
Monday, June 12, 2023
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UEFA Champions League final match-winner Rodri is the focus of our last look at players' 2022/23 displays in the FedEx Performance Zone.
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Fleetwood Mac, Queen – Manchester City's victorious players went through a lengthy repertoire as they celebrated their UEFA Champions League final triumph in their dressing room in Istanbul. Yet it was a slightly more recent song that caught attention, to the tune of Freed From Desire by Italian singer Gala: Rodri's On Fire.
The statistics certainly seem to back up that assessment. In our final FedEx Performance Zone stats dive of 2022/23, we take a closer look at the Spanish midfielder's all-action, match-winning performance against Inter.
Rodri has worked diligently in the Manchester City midfield all season, a key cog in a lean, mean winning machine. Yet when for once the timing was out, the gears were grinding, the 26-year-old demonstrated a more attacking part of his game with a sweetly-struck goal that turned the final inexorably in City's favour.
First things first: the ability to turn over possession and retain it that is at the heart of Rodri's play. Inter applied real pressure in Istanbul but the City No16 scarcely broke stride. His passing accuracy of 95% (27 points) was actually slightly above his demanding standard, and he covered 11.85km during the 90 minutes – further than anybody else bar Inter's Marcelo Brozović.
Final leaders
Top speed: Phil Foden, Man City (32.1km/h)
Distance covered: Marcelo Brozović, Inter (12.78km)
Passes completed: Nathan Aké, Man City (74)
Balls recovered: Manuel Akanji, Man City (8)
Tackles won: İlkay Gündoğan, Man City (3)
Clearances: Rúben Dias, Man City (5)
Rodri's seven ball recoveries (21 points) took him to an unsurpassed total for the season of 72, yet it was the only goal (45 points) midway through the second half that really set him apart at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium. Bernardo Silva's cut-back was deflected into his path and Rodri's finish was a celebration of technique under pressure – 1-0.
It was only the midfielder's second Champions League goal and helped him to a matchday total of 114 points, 18 clear of Ederson after the keeper made five saves (45 points) and two big claims (four points). Rúben Dias (84) and Manuel Akanji (78) were third and fourth before a gap to Brozović (56), Inter's top statistical performer.
Rodri's haul was maximised by points being tripled in the final and that boost to his tally ensured he leapt from ninth to third in the final FedEx Performance Zone standings. His ability to influence the game at clutch moments also ensured he was named 2022/23 Champions League Player of the Season – the perfect end to a stellar campaign for the midfielder and his treble-winning team.