Rodri says Manchester City's threat from set pieces is helping them to be Premier League champions after he scored another goal in the win over Newcastle.
Midfielder Rodri has become an unlikely goal threat in recent weeks, with his brilliant volley versus Watford and two headed goals from set-pieces against Leeds and Newcastle. Those headers were remarkably similar as the Spanish international darted to the near post and nodded home an in-swinging cross.
City now have the best attacking record from set-pieces in the Premier League this season, as well as the best defensive record from free kicks and corners — something Rodri says is vitally important for City's title push.
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City are three points ahead of Liverpool in the table now, with a better goal difference and goals scored, and Rodri believes their set piece improvement has given them a key advantage.
"It's so important, depending on the team they defend here at home very narrow and we have to be effective in other ways," he told Sky Sports.
"We've been unbelievable the last three or four games with set pieces and it's given us an advantage. To be champions you have to be the best in most parts of the game. We're the top team now in set pieces.
"The score is not the most important thing, the most important thing is winning and when you have the opportunity to score more goals you have to do it because the goal difference will be important."
City's set piece threat this year has largely been down to former under-18 coach Carlos Vicens, who was promoted to the first team coaching staff and was given a focus on improving City's output from set pieces.
Vicens will leave at the end of the season to take the first team manager's job at Heracles Almelo, and Pep Guardiola says the club will replace him.
"Of course it’s important, he said. "The taker is vital – we have strong players and Carlos made it easy, we believe we have the spaces. The second goal was inspiration from Kevin [De Bruyne] and [Ilkay] Gundo[gan]."
