Pep Guardiola has said that he is sad to bench Riyad Mahrez.
The Manchester City winger has started only 10 matches in the Premier League this season so far.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has insisted that he is to keep winger Riyad Mahrez benched. The player was brought into the side after a lot of turmoil with his former club Leicester City in the last summer transfer window. However, the player has been handed only 10 starts so far this season in the Premier League and might be handed a rare place in the starting eleven in Manchester City’s next match against Newport County in the FA Cup.
Speaking to the media ahead of their FA Cup, the Spanish gaffer gave his explanation on why the player has not been included in the starting lineup more often. He said, “I have a reason. I am the reason. He is not absolutely guilty or he doesn’t feel any special reason why.”
He added, “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 [Raheem Sterling] in top, top form and that is the only reason why. There’s no particular reason, like being upset or something like that.”
Guardiola concluded, “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.”
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