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To be champion of the most famous club tournament in the world, wearing one of the heaviest shirts in Europe and having a decisive participation in the campaign: forward Rodrygo is close to being immortalized in the history of the Real Madrid and the Champions League. And Brazilians are aware of that. At the age of 21, the youngster is preparing to play in his first Champions League final, which could give the Merengues their 14th European cup if they beat Liverpool, this Saturday, at 16:00 (GMT), at the Stade de France.
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“I still haven’t done half of what I can at Real Madrid,” says Rodrygo
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And Rodrygo faces the expectation of going down in history with the same serenity as someone who left the bank to score two goals in two minutes in stoppage time in a semifinal – in which his team was about to be eliminated by Pep Guardiola’s mighty Manchester City.
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– In this semifinal I had a great feat, to get the two goals in two minutes. And surely everyone already remembers. And now I hope in the final to be able to do something also to be remembered, for the Real Madrid be champion. And then consequently I will be remembered forever – says the attacker.
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At 21, Rodrygo can win his first Champions League, and in a prominent role — Photo: Getty Images
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Despite his young age, the Brazilian is in his third season at the club – certainly the one that stood out the most, not only winning the title several times, but starring in other important plays, such as the goal scored against Chelsea, in another impressive reaction from the Real Madrid in the campaign.
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The performance makes the Spanish press already indicate that the club is considering renewing the player’s contract, offering a higher salary and replacing him as one of the highlights of the squad. Rodrygo, in turn, promises that what has been shown in 2021/22 is just a percentage of the potential he intends to achieve with the merengue shirt.
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– I believe that this was a season that I did very well, but I know my potential and I know everything I can do. I know I haven’t done half of what I can do, what I can help the Real Madrid. But, of course, of all the ones I’ve had here, this was my best season – he says.
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Rodrygo has already surpassed the barrier of 100 games at Real Madrid – Photo: Disclosure / Real Madrid
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Check out the exclusive interview with Rodrygo in full:
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ge: Rodrygo, you’ve already experienced historic moments in this Champions League, certainly the most memorable against Manchester City. Regardless of what happens in the final, if Real wins, do you think they will forever be remembered among the great heroes of the conquest?
Rodrygo: Hope so. In that semifinal I did a great feat, getting two goals in two minutes. And surely everyone already remembers. And now I hope in the final to be able to do something also to be remembered, for Real Madrid be champion. And then consequently I will be remembered forever. Whenever they talk about that title, I know remembered.
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Rodrygo celebrating one of the goals scored by Real Madrid against Manchester City – Photo: Getty Images
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Being a champion is always special, but having that starring role is another level. When you put your head on the pillow, what is that feeling and expectation like at 21?
– It’s very special. Of course I tell everyone, many times my chip still doesn’t sink in. After the game against City I kept trying to think like that, but my chip didn’t sink in that we would play in a Champions League final and I had scored two goals in the semi-final. I’m very happy for the moment I’m living. If it’s not easy for a 21-year-old boy to be in the biggest club in the world, being a protagonist in this edition of Champions. But it’s something that I’ve always prepared myself, I’ve always trained a lot, I’ve always focused a lot to make these things happen as quickly as possible. I knew my time would come. And I hope it really arrived in this edition, it doesn’t just stop at the semifinals, it happens in the final too.
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You appeared decisively against Chelsea and City, but specifically on Champions League nights you already had impressive numbers, even when you weren’t starting. To what do you attribute this performance? A certain coldness, different concentration?
– This is a question I say that I never know what to answer. I think I’m that cold in every game, I have the same concentration in every game. But in the Champions there is something special, things always come out. I always help the team with either a goal or an assist. Since the past editions I already had good numbers, I had already done great performances. And every day I am realizing it more. But it’s a question I don’t know the answer to. I know that Champions League nights are always special to me and I always help my team in some way. And so I’m very happy about it.
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You can say that the game against Manchester City was the most special of your career, right? But do you think the final will surpass this ranking?
– This one from City will always have a place in my heart, but I think that after the title he will have to go to second place. I think the final, the title game will always be the most important, which will take the first place in my heart, for sure. I really hope that happens. And, of course, City’s game was very special, it will always be in my memory, but I hope the final takes its place.
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What is the expectation, how do you prepare to play the first Champions League final of your career? Is the preparation different?
– I’m trying to concentrate as much as possible. Like it or not, we know it’s a very different week than if we were going to play any other La Liga game. We always see many more people at the door of our CT, a lot of press. Then when we see a lot of people like that, I think that’s when it starts to sink in: “Gee, we’re in the Champions League final.” And I haven’t done anything special to try to concentrate, I just remember that I’m going to play in a Champions League final, and I think that’s enough to concentrate. But it’s a different week for everyone.
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Rodrygo’s emotion in the semifinals: Brazilian waits to know if he will start against Liverpool – Photo: Getty Images
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Has Ancelotti already indicated to you if he’s going to put you in the starting lineup or is he just talking the day before?
– He’s more of a talk on the eve. Sometimes the day before he arrives, at least in my case. When I’m going to play in the starting lineup, the day before he arrives and says: “Tomorrow you’re going to play”. Or if he doesn’t say anything, it’s because I won’t play (laughs). But for this final game he hasn’t talked to anyone yet, because we started the preparation. But I believe that closer to the game he will say something. It’s in the pre-game lecture that we get to know who the 11 are going to play.
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And what changes in relation to starting as a starter or entering during the game having to change a result, something like that? Do you have to give it a different gas?
– I try to give the gas every minute that I’m on the field, right? If I start playing, I know I have to start well, and there are times when I have to be more cautious too, I have to know how to manage. And when I get in… In those games, there were situations where we needed to gas up all the time. And that’s what happened. I had to take advantage of the few minutes I had, and when I walked in I gave it my all. And thank God things turned out. But when I go out to play I know I have to know how to dose a little more, because nobody can run the entire game at the same intensity, there are moments when you need to take a breath, you need to calm down. And when you enter the game you have less time and you can run all the time.
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There was extra time against Chelsea, extra time against City… Did that strengthen Real mentally? Ready for one more?
– People always say they hope it doesn’t go through another extension. We hope to win the game in 90 minutes. But if an extension comes, we are also prepared, it has already gone through two. Mentally we are very strong, we know that until the end of the game we have to believe. And we will be very strong for all situations.
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You’re in season three at Real Madrid and showed growth with Ancelotti, as well as other players. What is his role in this individual improvement?
– I think he has a very big influence. Since he arrived, he has helped me a lot, he has always talked to me a lot. And I tried all the time to listen. He is a coach who has won everywhere he has been, and very experienced, he has worked with many players. So I knew that anything he said to me I could take it positive and it would work. And that’s what I did. And of course, I think it was half-half, it took half of his help and also half of my daily work, all my effort that eventually pays off.
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Rodrygo’s Champions League numbers:
10 goals in 26 games (11 as a starter)
5 goals in the 2021/22 edition
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He has a history of enjoying working with Brazilians. Why do you think he gets along so well with Brazil players?
– I don’t know either. But I already had this conversation with him, when he arrived, in pre-season. He said that he had already coached many Brazilian players, that he liked Brazilians a lot. And I said: “That’s good, you’ll like me too” (laughs). He is a very communicative guy, he always jokes with us. And he also makes us feel free to play. Of course, he walks around here, does this, does that, but he makes us feel at ease. So I think that makes a lot of difference too.
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The Spanish press says that the club is already thinking about renewing and improving your contract, putting you on a higher level within the squad. You could say this was the season you blew up on Real Madrid?
– I believe that this was a season that I did very well, but I know my potential and I know everything I can do. I know I haven’t done half of what I can do, what I can help the Real Madrid. But of course, out of all the ones I’ve had here, this was my best season. I think so far, for everything I’ve been doing this season finale, it’s been the best. But I still have a lot to show and I believe I will show even more.
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And do you think that your performance specifically in these decisive games may have brought you closer to the World Cup with the Brazilian team? Because the World Cup is a decision all the time, just like the Champions League. Do you think this performance brought you closer to Qatar?
– I think so, that it gives a certain strength. We know that in the World Cup there will only be big games, against very strong teams. These are players who are used to playing here, in Europe, in the Spanish Championship in the Champions League. So I think that being decisive on these Champions League nights gives me a little more testing, a little more strength to get there at the World Cup. I hope this helped me, I will keep working and I hope to be in the World Cup.
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And what will be the ideal Saturday for Rodrygo? Hoping to score another goal, or if the Real Madrid being champion is already a good size?
– Oh, I think the Real Madrid being champion is great. If I score, it will be even more perfect. But I think the most important, of course, is our title, the title of the Real Madrid, regardless of who scores. If I can score a goal, even better.
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