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AIPROPX ReportYahoo Sports · 2h ago
England star Elliot Anderson addresses Rodri challenge after Manchester City transfer
England star Elliot Anderson is preparing for his first season with Manchester City -Credit:Sarah Stier - FIFA, FIFA via Getty Images
The thought of stepping into Rodri's shoes would strike terror into the hearts of most players. After all, the newly crowned 'King of Spain' is dominating the midfield like nobody else in world soccer right now.
Rodri's FIFA World Cup triumph this summer served as a powerful reminder of just how exceptional a talent he remains. A player whose departure from the blue side of Manchester would create an enormous gap, should City and Barcelona finalize a transfer before the window slams shut.
However, rather than approaching the challenge with overwhelming trepidation, new arrival Elliot Anderson is convinced he can pull off what seems like an impossible mission if called upon, as per the Manchester Evening News .
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-Credit:Cameron Smith, Getty Images
Factor in that Anderson has joined the Etihad with a £116 million ($155.2 million) price tag, establishing him as the club's most expensive acquisition, and the expectations weighing on his shoulders are enormous. Still, the England international maintains he's completely unfazed by what he cost, and believes he can match Rodri's standards.
"It will always be [attached] to me. As long as I focus on myself and my performances, that's all I can do. It's football, isn't it?" Anderson told reporters on Wednesday.
When questioned whether he considered himself comparable to Rodri, Anderson responded: "Yeah, I think so. I can be. I can do various things within midfield and I'll see where I get used. I'll play anywhere, to be honest. Creating things, driving forward, or the other role, if they ask me to do that.
"I've spoken a few times to the manager. He explained the sort of things that I need to do. There is a lot of running, a lot of energy. It's to try and control games. That is what I can do."
Anderson's camp initiated discussions with City months earlier, well before Pep Guardiola's exit was made public. Anderson maintains he learned of Guardiola's departure simultaneously with the general public - and that it had zero bearing on his choice.
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When questioned whether it influenced him, he responded: "Nope. Not at all. It's such a huge club and the players they have are the best. I think I knew of their interest shortly before the World Cup. I wanted to be surrounding myself with these sorts of players, proving myself on a daily basis."
Anderson immediately won over supporters after not only rejecting a transfer to Manchester United but declaring that City stayed blue.
Now he's doubled down on City's fierce rivals and cross-town adversaries, confirming a switch to Old Trafford was never on the cards. Not when he's harbored a decade-long obsession with his new team.
He stated: "I've seen a few things. It [the United comment] was blown out of proportion. I was probably eight or nine when [Sergio] Agüero scored that goal. I've been watching City for the past 10 years.
"You've got a big decision to make - and I'm confident I've made the right one."
-Credit:Image Photo Agency, Getty Images
Anderson is convinced that helping England advance to a World Cup semi-final demonstrated that he has what it takes to compete at the highest level. However, he acknowledges the semi-final loss to Argentina in Atlanta left him devastated.
"I take huge confidence knowing that I can perform on a World Cup stage. Obviously, I hadn't played in anything as big as that before. That was a really good test for me.
"It's really hard. I'm still sort of struggling with that now. There are highs and lows in football. It's about how you bounce back. I've had three weeks to reflect on it, but now is a new season, you have to move forward."
EnglandElliot AndersonRodriManchester CityRodri'sBarcelonaCreditSarah StierAfterKingSpainFIFA World Cup
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