Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola, has urged Riyad Mahrez to focus on his game if he must get back to his best.
Guardiola made this known in a press conference ahead of the team’s Champions League clash against Copenhagen today.
Recall that Mahrez has made only one start since August, with Phil Foden taking his place on the right wing.
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Guardiola wants the 31-year-old to rediscover his love for the game before he can force his way back into his thoughts.
“He knows it. I know perfectly Riyad. We need him to come back to his best and when he’s the best – personality, ability, quality, his love for the game.
“Step-by-step he will come back. Now he’s not playing much but he has to come back in better physical condition.
“The rest, I cannot teach him anything – he’s too good,” Guardiola told a Champions League news conference when asked about Mahrez’s recent form.
Style of play
A left-footed player, Mahrez usually plays as a right winger, a position which allows him to cut inside and shoot on goal with his stronger foot, or make deliveries into the penalty area; however, he is a versatile player, who is capable of playing anywhere across the front line, in a central role as an attacking midfielder, as a winger on either flank, or even in a centre-forward role as a false 9. A quick, creative and technically gifted player, his main traits are his trickery, balance, turn of pace, flair and dribbling skills.
Although he is capable of scoring goals, he is also an excellent assist provider, courtesy of his ability to create chances for his teammates. Despite his ability, however, his record from the penalty spot has been inconsistent throughout his career. In his youth, he was noted for his ball skills, but was often overlooked due to his slender build
