Man City star Rodri sets personal target and addresses Casemiro comparisons

Manchester City midfield enforcer Rodri admits he has aspirations to become 'the best' defensive midfielders in the business, amid frequent comparisons with some of his Premier League counterparts.

The Spaniard, who scored a goal of the season contender in the first leg of City's Champions League quarter-final triumph over Bayern Munich earlier this month, has been a stalwart figure in the Blues' pursuit of a historic treble this term. He has dominated the midfield, allowing his forward-thinking teammates to express themselves in attacking scenarios.

Although City invested heavily in signing England international Kalvin Phillips from Leeds United last summer, Rodri, being helped by the former's injury woes, has remained at the top of Pep Guardiola's pecking order for the defensive midfield berth. In total he has racked up 45 appearances in all competitions, netting three goals and chipping in with seven assists.

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The Spaniard, who has gone from strength-to-strength this term, has proven he has more to his game than sitting deep and protecting the defensive line behind him. But he has aspirations of becoming the very best in that role, while also admitting that he wants to distance himself from being compared with the likes of Chelsea ace N'Golo Kante and Casemiro of Manchester United.

"I want to be the best," Rodri admitted, speaking to The Telegraph. "That's my duty every day. I see myself from the first year when I came here to now and I grow a lot. I thought I had good qualities and condition when I came but now I see myself with experience, coaching, what I've learned from opponents.

"My aim is to be the best but other people have to decide. I don't