After two years of waiting (not always patiently) at Leicester City after helping them win the title, Riyad Mahrez got the move to a big club he wanted in 2018.
The forward was the subject of a £61m transfer between the King Power Stadium side and Manchester City, and has performed well under Pep Guardiola since his arrival.
He might not be a regular starter, alternating on and off the bench at the Spaniard’s will with Bernardo Silva, but the Algerian is happy to be at a great club challenging (and winning) titles regularly.
Sitting down with France Football, the player opened up about life at Manchester City.
He said: “The dressing room in a big club, it’s a whole different reality. You have to fight non-stop. Being relaxed isn’t tolerated. I’m looking to do more, because if you don’t, you know someone else will play instead of you. Playing a good game isn’t enough. You have to play very, very good games all the time. That’s Manchester City.”
That seems to be what he was looking for, since his spot at Leicester City was almost always guaranteed due to his stature and past performances.
Now, with Bernardo Silva providing him with staunch competition down the right-hand side, Mahrez knows he has to impress Guardiola all the time, a manager he admires greatly.
He said: “He’s a winner, he’s there to make us progress. Guardiola will explain everything to us, break it down, from A to Z, with the objective of making the game easier. He’s focused on the play. I love the meetings with him. Watching tape with him is fascinating because we learn constantly”.
So far this season, Mahrez has scored three goals and assisted eight goals in 14 appearances for Manchester City, but hasn’t featured in the last four Premier League games.
