Rodri after his first four days at Barcelona: What have I gotten myself into...

Rodri has quickly discovered the unique characteristics of Hansi Flick's impressive Barcelona squad. The midfielder, who arrived this summer from Manchester City in one of the market's biggest and most surprising moves, gave an interview to "Cadena COPE" where he explained the differences he's found between the German coach and Pep Guardiola, and also commented on the physical intensity of his team compared to Real Madrid.

The comparison between Flick and Pep came up directly during the conversation. Rodri didn't hesitate: "In absolutely nothing. They are nothing alike." The midfielder explained that his arrival at Barça was met with an initial impression far different from what he expected. "As soon as I arrived, I thought I was coming to the Barça of 'rondos' and possession, but they put me through four days where I thought: 'What have I gotten myself into?' It started with physical punishments, gym work. I think they wanted to instill a bit of respect in me. It wasn't normal," Rodri recounted with a laugh.

The physical demands have been one of the aspects that surprised him most since his arrival. When asked if training is tougher than at other clubs, the Spanish international was unequivocal: "Yes, I was surprised."

He again drew a direct comparison to his time at Manchester City. According to Rodri, Guardiola approaches player preparation differently: "Pep was more about the philosophy that competition gives you rhythm. But Hansi is something else, and for those of us who arrived later, he really pushed us."

The conversation also touched on the physical aspect of the game. Journalist Juanma Castaño reminded Rodri that Barça is currently the second team that runs the most in La Liga. The midfielder responded naturally: "Well, we have room for improvement here." The next question was about the team that runs the least. Initially, Rodri tried to avoid answering: "You tell me, you tell me... Is it Real Madrid?"

The comment sparked a broader reflection on the importance of physical conditioning in modern football. "I think modern football is directly linked to the teams that run the most, but you have to run effectively and in the right way. It's connected: if you run, you have more chances," he explained.

Rodri is now focused on the Spanish national team, with whom he is currently training, while continuing his adaptation to Barça. In his seven official matches for the Catalan side, he has achieved a 94.2% passing accuracy and has become the player with the most tackles in La Liga – nine. Flick, who has given him rest after his arrival without a pre-season, has provided him with an average of 62.71 minutes per match to gradually reach his best physical form.