‘I’m not kind to him’: Pep Guardiola on former Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted that he has not been kind enough to former Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez.
Indeed, the £60 million recruit – the most expensive African player ever – has started only 21 games across all competitions this season. Of those, only ten have been in the Premier League.
The lack of game time hasn’t really been a result of performances – or the quality thereof. He has had a direct hand in 20 goals in 2018/19 (ten goals and ten assists), but Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva’s genius has reduced him to the role of a bench warmer.
In a shocking and rather unusual turn of events, Guardiola has directly spoken about the Algerian, accepting how helpless he is when it comes to giving him more time on the pitch.
The Spaniard also apologised for the part that he has played in the 27-year old’s regular omissions from the starting XI.
"“I have a reason. I am the reason. He is not absolutely guilty or he doesn’t feel any special reason why,” Guardiola said ahead of the FA Cup fixture with Newport County.“I am sad because he is training incredibly, he is an incredibly talented player but in this moment we have five strikers – for example in the last games Leroy hasn’t played.“We have incredible players, like for example Bernardo (Silva) and Raz (Sterling) in top, top form and that is the only reason.“There’s no particular reason, like being upset or something like that.“He is a guy we are happy with, but unfortunately I am not kind with him, in the fact I cannot give him the minutes he deserves, so I’m sorry, that’s all I can say.”"
How Mahrez would wish that he were still at Leicester? Or does he? Well, it’s pretty much a case of a man who would want a bit of both City and Leicester – the wages of the former and the love and respect of the latter.
We all knew that it was eventually going to come down to this. You simply cannot be a regular feature of the starting XI of a club that has Sterling, Silva and Sane. Unless, of course, you’re of that G.O.A.T. ilk.
Next. This is the best starting XI for Leicester City right now. dark
An injury or perhaps another vagary may open up space for Mahrez but that is his only chance. Unfortunate? Yes. Sad? Yes. But he chose it.