Thursday’s edition of L’Equipe carried an interview with Eliaquim Mangala, in which the Manchester City owned defender was pretty gushing about Pep Guardiola, and what he’d learned under the manager.
Mangala, who spent the last season on a successful loan with Valencia, explained he’d progressed more in a few weeks with Guardiola than he had in his Manchester City career up to that date.
“That is another issue, yes,” replied Mangala with a smile. “This is a coach who has his own ideas. I am fortunate to have spent a month with him, and I can tell you that I have made more progress, especially tactically, in a month with him than in two years at City.
“I want to believe I can convince him. But today I’m on the market, there will be offers this summer.”
Perhaps those words made him sound a little more hopeful than he actually is, or should be, because L’Equipe, the very same newspaper who spoke to Mangala, have a small 
article on Friday explaining how things actually are.
It would have to be assumed, given Thursday’s interview, that it’s come from close to the horse’s mouth, and L’Equipe say Mangala knows his Manchester City days are numbered.
Txiki Begiristain informed Mangala’s entourage earlier this week that there’s no chance of being part of Guardiola’s plans. Valencia are interested, but don’t want to pay €20m, and there’s also interest from Italy.
