His appearance, to the rescue of Real Madrid against Chelsea, and the two goals in 89 seconds of added time in the semifinals against Manchester City, extend the legend of the Brazilian Rodrygo Goes in the Champions League. ‘Mister Champions’ never saw Real Madrid eliminated and his faith propelled the team to the final in Paris. When Pep Guardiola’s team scored at the Santiago Bernabéu and the game ended two goals down, he looked at the shield and knew they could come from behind.
Rodrygo’s smile expresses something other than words. To the nerves that he feels and that he does not hide hours before his first Champions League final in an interview with Agencia EFE. The Brazilian, grateful to Carlo Ancelotti for the advice that has boosted his growth, turns the page on the ‘Mbappé case’, ensuring that the Frenchman has not laughed at Real Madrid, but focused on a final in which he warns of the offensive potential of Liverpool’s attack, especially ‘Mo’ Salah.
In his memory of European finals conquered by Real Madrid, there is an unforgettable moment, Sergio Ramos’ goal in Lisbon in the 93rd minute. The lesson of a Madridista emblem that he celebrated madly at his home in Brazil when he dreamed of being a Madridista. Now, it is Rodrygo who represents that fighting spirit, never giving anything up for lost and fighting until the end for a shield that inspires him.
Question: Thanks to his goals, he has become ‘Mr. Champions’. How can you explain your special relationship with this competition?
Answer: It is a special competition for me, where things go well for me. I am very happy for that and I hope to be better every day in this competition.
Q: Ten goals in 26 Champions League games; seven in 74 in the league. Is there any explanation for this data?
A: No (smiles). I feel that it is a different competition in which special nights are always experienced.
Q: It is your first final. Do you feel more nervous or a special pressure before the game?
A: This week has been nerve wracking, I’m anxious for the time for the final to come. It’s my first and it’s normal. Teammates always tell me that they were very nervous in their first final. It’s what I’m feeling. Some good nerves for wanting to play it.
Q: Your role has been decisive in getting to Paris. How do you feel in the role of savior?
A: I am feeling very good, important for the team, very happy to live these moments of being important, of scoring goals when we were already almost dead and the team always came back. I am very happy and I hope that everything will be worth it in the final.
Q: How can you explain what a Real Madrid player feels to never give up?
A: It’s something that really can’t be explained. I really don’t know what’s going on. When Manchester City scored, I looked at the shield and thought, if we’ve come from behind before, we can do it again. It was crazy to score two goals in less than two minutes. There is no explanation, but what I do know is that the fans play an important role, because they help us a lot and they are always special.
Q: Those two goals in 89 seconds are the moment of your career. How do you remember?
A: Of all that I lived, I am left with a beautiful thing: when the referee added six minutes, people began to shout as if it was a goal and it was only added time. There people began to shout and what happened from that moment was something crazy.
Q: Everyone talks about Ancelotti’s only doubt for the final: Fede Valverde or Rodrygo. Does a player understand that he can be just as decisive coming off the bench?
A: I’m calm, of course I like to start, I can help the team more, but the coach is the one who is going to make the best decision, whether Fede or I play. I trust Fede a lot, he is a great player who can help us a lot. And that’s what I’m here for, to help, coming in later or as a starter, I want to help Real Madrid.
Q: How has Ancelotti helped your evolution?
A: He has helped me a lot because he always talked to me, he asked me for peace of mind, he told me that things were going to turn out well. From the first day she has been a special person for me, she has always talked to me a lot, she has given me a lot of advice that has helped me a lot.
Q: Given your progressive growth in the team, is it good for you that Mbappé doesn’t finally come?
A: It’s not something I was thinking about, I have a Champions League final to play and I was only thinking about this, not about Mbappé, which is something that the club had to solve. He’s not here anymore, we know he’s not coming and we can’t talk about him. He’s a great player but we shouldn’t talk about him.
Q: After knowing that Mbappé was not going to sign for Real Madrid, you uploaded a photo of him kissing the shield. Was it a message to the French or pure chance?
A: My passion is playing for Real Madrid, I’m very happy about that and it has nothing to do with other people. It’s just my thing.
Q: Has Mbappé laughed at Real Madrid?
A: I don’t think so, but I can’t talk about something without knowing what happened. The only thing I know is that one day he was going to come and the next not, but I don’t know why he didn’t want to come, just that he is a PSG player and that we have to be focused on what we have.
Q: And in that position they have nothing more and nothing less than Vinícius, what has changed in him to be such a goalscorer now?
A: He is a great player, a friend, we are very happy for what he is experiencing. He always worked hard, he trained hard because he knew his time was going to come. It has been this season and hopefully it lasts a long time.
Q: What special memory comes to your mind of the four ‘Champions’ in five years that Real Madrid won?
A: The goal of the tenth by Sergio Ramos. I was at home watching it, Real Madrid was losing, I had a ball nearby in the living room and when Ramos equalized I started to kick the ball, my mother got angry with me for the mess I caused. I was always a real Madridista, everyone who knows me knows that my dream was to play here. In Brazil we all have a team and another from Europe, mine was always Real Madrid.
Q: And now it’s your turn to be the protagonist on the pitch against Liverpool. What catches your rival’s attention?
A: Their main danger is their speed, they always attack the defenders’ backs and that is where we must be most careful because they are very good up front.
Q: If you had to choose one, which Liverpool footballer would you choose?
A: With Salah, he is a great player.
Q: In 2019 you signed for six seasons with Real Madrid. After the final he will fulfill half of his contract. Has the time come to sign the renewal of it?
A: It’s something we’re going to talk about later, I don’t know anything, my father is going to decide everything because I’m focused on the Champions League final.