Pep Guardiola hails Man City recruitment team for signing two 'incredible' players

Rodri is the best midfielder in Europe, Pep Guardiola declared after the Spaniard scored again for Manchester City.

Rodri was City's Champions League hero in Istanbul in June, and was determined to score in the Blues' homecoming for the first game of their European defence at home to Crvena Zvezda on Tuesday. After going close on a number of occasions, Rodri finally got his goal when he curled a wonderful shot into the far corner to kill the game.

The midfielder now has three goals and two assists this season, and Guardiola feels he can get even better in the absence of more attacking teammates in the central areas.

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"He is the best [in Europe]," Guardiola asserted. "Hopefully he can be better, have a good mentality and good things to improve. But he's an extraordinary holding midfielder, we were lucky the club sign these types of players.

"When we arrive was another type of player. He makes an extraordinary amount of games and now is one of the captains of the team. A fantastic defensive midfielder. Not just the goal - defensively, offensively, the composure to read the spaces, knows where the man is free. Close to the box is so dangerous. He loves to arrive in the final third and makes dribble and shoots. Playing really really well."

With Ilkay Gundogan leaving, Kevin De Bruyne injured, and other attacking players missing, Rodri has emerged as an unlikely goal threat this season, and Guardiola explained how he has always had that ability in his locker.

"Especially when the holding midfielders follow our players in the pockets and they open and