Barcelona's Rodri Hernandez revealed that he has been applying the advice of former coach Pep Guardiola on ball retention during his time at Manchester City. In a recent interview with Mundo Deportivo, Rodri stated that Guardiola always emphasized the importance of maintaining possession of the ball, saying that there is no other style of play that can compensate for losing the ball repeatedly. This approach was evident in Barcelona's recent 3-1 win over Sevilla.
Rodri's comments come after Barcelona's seventh consecutive win in La Liga, with the team topping the table with 21 points. The match against Sevilla was particularly challenging for Barcelona, with Rodri acknowledging that Sevilla provided a tough test, especially in the first half. However, Barcelona improved significantly in the second half, with Rodri praising the team's performance.
The win over Sevilla was largely thanks to a hat-trick from Brazilian forward Raphinha, who has now scored 12 goals in La Liga this season, making him the top scorer in the league. Raphinha's impressive form has seen him move ahead of Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal in the goal-scoring charts. His hat-trick against Sevilla was his second consecutive treble, following his three goals against Racing Santander in the previous match.
Raphinha's achievement is notable, as he became the first player to score a hat-trick with his head and both feet in a single match since Luis Suarez in 2015. The Brazilian forward has now scored 12 goals in La Liga this season, making him one of the top scorers in the league. His impressive form has been a key factor in Barcelona's success this season.
Lamine Yamal has also been in impressive form for Barcelona, providing 51 assists in 159 appearances for the club. At just 19 years and 68 days old, Yamal has become the youngest player in La Liga to reach 50 assists since the 2013-2014 season. His achievement surpasses the previous record held by Vinicius Junior, who reached 50 assists at 22 years and 298 days old.
Barcelona's success this season has been built on a strong team performance, with Rodri highlighting the importance of the team's collective effort. The team's next match will be against Athletic Bilbao, who are currently fifth in La Liga. Rodri emphasized that the team's goal is to maintain their winning streak and top the table before the international break.
The win over Sevilla has taken Barcelona to the top of La Liga, with the team holding a five-point lead over second-placed Atletico Madrid. The team's impressive form has seen them become one of the favorites to win the league title this season. With Raphinha and Yamal in top form, Barcelona will look to continue their winning streak and maintain their position at the top of the table.
Key points
- Rodri applies Pep Guardiola's advice on ball retention during Barcelona's match against Sevilla.
