City midfielder Rodrigo insists there is much more to risk than just three points in the Manchester Derby on Sunday.
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City welcome second-placed Manchester United to the Etihad Stadium for a 16:30 (UK) starter, knowing we could extend our lead at the top of the Premier League to 17 points.
And while the focus will be on improving our impressive run of 15 consecutive league victories, the Spaniard wants him and his team to also understand the added meaning of the fixture in the eyes of our supporters.
He said: “This is one of the best games you can play.
“United are one of the most historic clubs in the Premier League and it’s always a tough game.
“These are the kind of games where we play for more than just a football match, we play for the pride of our fans, so that they are proud to be City fans.
“That’s why derby is so important to us.”
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City are in good shape, with 21 consecutive wins in all competitions, including 15 in the Premier League.
We are unbeaten in 28 games, and if we have to win on Sunday, we will set a new Club record for the longest unbeaten run.
Nevertheless, the players are not at all skeptical of the dangers our opponents face in their repertoire, and the areas they intend to take advantage of.
United have built a reputation under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as a strong counter-attacking force, capable of breaking forward with tremendous speed.
While acknowledging the danger to our competitors, Rodrigo believes City need to focus on our own game to have the best chance of emerging.
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“It is very important to control the opponent’s side effects,” he admitted.
“The key is in a good position in the park, focus, and being aggressive.
“We are on the offensive side, and our game depends on getting the ball back as quickly as possible when we are pushed.
“Focusing on your part is an individual responsibility.
“Other than that, the team works very offensively and defensively and when the dynamics are good you just want to keep going the same way. ”
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One amazing stat made by the Manchester Derbies recently is that the home team is away with a win in just three of the last 15 events in all competitions.
And Rodrigo is hopeful City can bolster that move by drawing on some of our previous achievements, including the Carabao Cup semi – final 2-0 victory in January.
However, the Spaniard admitted that the fans would be inside the Etihad to encourage them to promise to be an interesting sight that is a little more appealing.
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“Derby is always special,” he said. “It would be a terrific game; it is clear that we miss the atmosphere in the stadiums.
“But they are a good side, they can always hit you, at home or away.
“We’ve done well on the latest games against them, at home it’s been a bit more of a struggle, but hopefully we can keep the same level.
“I’m pretty sure if we give it the best, we have a good chance of winning.”
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