"I found out 20 minutes before I was going to play as starter"

Rodrygo sent Real Madrid provisionally top of La Liga with two goals in a comfortable 3-0 win at Cadiz on Sunday. The Brazilian winger also set up a goal for La Liga's top scorer Jude Bellingham. 

Madrid climbed a point clear of high-flying Girona, who host Athletic Bilbao on Monday looking to reclaim top spot. The key player in Madrid's success on Sunday spoke to his current club's press following his brilliant performances.

"In the first goal I couldn't do much more because two players closed me down. In the second I was able to shoot well. The second was on a counter attack and Bellingham freed space for me with a move, I dribbled and put in another wonderstrike," he said.

The 22-year-old admitted that he was going to play as a substitute to rest for his side's crucial upcoming matches but ended up playing as a starter because of Brahim Diaz's sudden injury.

"20 minutes before warming up I found out that I was going to play as a starter. I thought I was going to rest because my knee hurt, my tooth... but I had to play and everything went well."

Rodrygo has been performing well in recent games, scoring five goals and providing four assists in Madrid's last three games. "I am very happy. It's the fruit of my work. I work to score goals, assists and help my team in any way I can. Things are going well," he concluded.

 

November 26, 2023