star Rodri says no other team is dealing with the expectation that his side are in the , with failure to win the title ‘normal’ for their rivals.
The champions are struggling to hit their peak this campaign, already losing three times in the Premier League and being held to three draws.
They are far from out of the title race, just four points behind league-leaders Liverpool, but they will need to rediscover their form if they are to get their hands on the Premier League trophy in May.
Rodri feels that Manchester City are dealing with a kind of pressure that no other team experiences after winning the last three Premier League titles and five of the last six.
The Spain international midfielder believes his team is the only one that can truly fail this season, but is battling to make sure that doesn’t happen.
‘It’s more difficult when you don’t win,” Rodri said. “We don’t want to be at the same level, we want to be even better. Every team gets better every year, that’s how it works.
‘We did have results at the start of the season but maybe the form wasn’t there. Then, comes the opposite. We didn’t do our worst but the results never came.
‘I go home and don’t sleep well. I’m mad. I want to solve the situation. The only team who can fail this season is us. Everyone else, if they don’t do well, it won’t be a failure, it will be normal.
‘City win every year. This is something (that happens) when you win. It’s the price.’
Manchester City host Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon and can go one point off top spot with a win.
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