Pep Guardiola reveals that City’s management regret losing Riyadh Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan in summer. City lost their two key players and their recent performances may have them regret the moves. Although the Sky Blues signed Kovacic and Doku as their replacement, the ex-City men were still vital for them. While Gundogan secured a move to Barcelona, Al-Ahli managed to steal the Algerian winger. The duo was a key in the treble success for the club last year.
Mahrez scored a hat-trick in the semi final of FA Cup followed by a brace from the German maestro in the final against Manchester United. The pair scored a total of 26 goals for the club last year before exiting the Etihad Stadium. Guardiola was speaking ahead of their clash with Luton about the transfers. He said,
“Sometimes it’s not easy, with the problems that we’ve had, with the important players injured, with the new players coming.
I wanted (Ilkay) Gundo to stay here, I wanted Riyad (Mahrez) to stay here, but they wanted to leave! For a new challenge in life, for family issues or whatever, thank you so much guys, because never it could have happened without you, never, impossible, impossible.
But, people cannot imagine us being in a bad position like Jurgen said? Of course we can be there! Of course we can lose games and competitions and Premier Leagues.
But please, don’t do it about consistency, or because of the complacency, or because they are relaxed, or they are presumptuous – the team is not there! The team is not in that way, we’re so honest and doing it every game.”
Manchester City won their game against Luton Town in a hard fought 2-1 victory. The defending champions made a comeback owing to the goals from Bernardo Silva and Jck Grealish in the second half. They now sit fourth in the table behind Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa.
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