'It was good advice' - Rodri explains surprise Stefan Ortega role in his goal against Crvena Zvezda

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has revealed how team-mate Stefan Ortega played an unexpected role in his goal against Crvena Zvezda on Tuesday.

Rodri scored City’s third goal in a 3-1 win against the Serbian side as the Treble winners began their UEFA Champions League title defence at the Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola’s side dominated the first half, but went into the interval a goal behind after Osman Bukari scored on the stroke of half time.

A Julian Alvarez brace put City on the road to victory, and Rodri – scorer of City’s winner in the Champions League final three months ago – coolly slotted home a third to make sure of the three points.

The Spaniard had never scored in the Champions League until he scored a left-footed stunner in the 3-0 quarter-final first-leg win against Bayern Munich in April, but he has now scored three goals in his last six appearances in the competition.

Having now scored three goals already this season, Rodri is starting to earn himself a reputation as a reliable finisher. Reluctant to take all the credit, the midfielder explained how City’s substitute goalkeeper Ortega told him where to shoot if he got the chance.

“I saw [the chance] in that moment and I looked for the far corner,” Rodri told TNT Sports after the match.

“Sometimes you don’t have to shoot strong.

“I remember Stefan [Ortega], at half time, he told me the goalkeeper [Omri Glazer] was paying attention always in the air, and that he wasn’t down and to the sides of the goal. So I shot there – it was good advice!”

Rodri’s finishing abilities have clearly improved since he joined City in 2019, and he’s already well on track to enjoying his best-ever season in front of goal. The 27-year-old admitted that goalscoring is an area of his game that he has been working to improve.

“I think it’s something that becomes natural in a player. I know it’s not my role, but I think the way they defended against us, dropping, they gave us midfielders more time to shoot and to appear in the second lines.

“It’s something I’m trying to work on and to grow, even though it’s not my biggest quality, but I can help the team in some moments, goals and assists, that part of the game.”

Having begun the defence of their Champions League crown with a win, City’s next European outing comes in the form of a trip to Germany to face RB Leipzig on Wednesday, October 4.

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