Thanks, as ever, for following City's match against Chelsea via our Matchday Centre.
Pep Guardiola's side next face Brentford at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday 20 February, with kick-off scheduled for 19:30 (UK).
Our MDC for that one will begin at 17:30 (UK) - see you there 👊
"We knew it [Chelsea would be a challenge]. That was a good game.
"We played incredible in the second half. The first half was not our levels but to compete against them teams you have to play 90 minutes not just one half."
Rodri’s goal was his 20th in the Premier League, while he’s been involved in nine goals in 2023-24 (6 goals, 3 assists), his joint-most in a single season in the competition for Manchester City (also 9 in 2021-22).
Manchester City are unbeaten in their last 23 Premier League games at the Etihad Stadium (W18 D5), drawing four of their last seven. Indeed, they’ve only lost one of their last seven home league games when conceding the opening goal (W4 D2).
"It's a point, a draw, of course we want to win and the way we performed second half we deserved a bit more but when you defend like we did you can't get more," he explained.
"We have enough experience to know it's just the beginning of the last part of the season. We want to win but we have to check ourselves and in the first half with our defending we have to be stronger for the rest of the season."
"We knew about their counter-attacks and fast players, but we have to defend the counter-attack better. From there, it’s always more difficult to come back," he said.
"It’s a matter of defending better. We tried in the second half. [We had more] spirit, we wanted the ball and wanted to take risks. We were a bit scared of the counter-attack [in the first half].
"You have to be brave."
Click the link below for a chance to win a Rodrigo signed shirt: https://www.mancity.com/feed/widget/327450e9-46b7-4296-8cff-97a98f31b03c
How the table looks after our 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
Thanks for your support as always 💙
A battling occasion ends in a draw.
CommentaryReporting by Sam Cox @mancity