Manchester City are better equipped to approach the Champions League final after losing the showpiece event in 2021.
That is the message from midfielder Rodri, who insists that City are more mature than they were two years ago, as they head to Istanbul to take on Inter Milan with a first-ever Champions League title on offer.
City reached the final in Porto in 2021, but were beaten 1-0 by Chelsea and crashed out in the semi-finals last year at Real Madrid. Having knocked Real out at the same stage this season, City have since added the Premier League and FA Cup titles, meaning they are on for a historic treble if they can get past Inter.
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Rodri was a surprise substitute in Porto two years ago, but will surely start in Istanbul on Saturday, and will attempt to help his side secure their third title of the season.
Speaking after City beat Manchester United in the FA Cup final, Rodri said: "We have learned lots of lessons, experience. It’s my fourth year, when you win, lose, finals, everything you can learn. I feel more mature in these situations.
"We try to learn a lot from the past. It’s something you learn and I think the desire - how we played Real Madrid, for example, after a defeat there last year - so we’re going to play in the same way, trying to solve the situation, come back from the situation and try to win the final."
"I think to win you have to have lost before and to have a winning mentality in the Champions League you have to be there in the semifinals, touch the finals. That’s the good point of this team.
"The last six or seven years has been touching the semi-finals and finals. It is the only way to achieve and to win. We’re on that road and hopefully working hard."
Manager Pep Guardiola has challenged City to finally win the Champions League if they want to be recognised as a truly great side, and Rodri said he agreed with his boss ahead of one final push this week.
"I think Pep said that you will not be ‘big, big’ if you don’t win in Europe," he said. "It’s the exam we have to pass again. Another final and we are ready, that’s all I can say. I’m just going to push the guys to be ourselves. Be confident, be ourselves and try our best and fight for the final.
"Now we can focus on the last game, the last title, we focus game by game, not been thinking too much. Of course it’s there, it’s something we dream about but we are going to prepare against a tough team – Italian, five at the back. But they have a lot of quality so we have to prepare well."
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