PEP GUARDIOLA has told RIyad Mahrez he needs to shape up after his low key start to the season at Manchester City.
The £60million man was handed a new three year deal by the champions in the summer but has yet to show it was the right call.
He has started only two of eight matches in the Premier League so far – with Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva generally filling the wide roles.
Guardiola says he needs the Algerian back to his brilliant best but suggesting he is not at the right level of fitness to be playing regularly.
The Man City boss said: “He has to come back in a better physical condition and after the best will come because as a player.
“I cannot teach him anything because he is too good. He knows it and I know Riyad perfectly. We need him.
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“He has to come back to his best. In terms of personality, quality, ability, his love for this game and how he enjoys to play. Step by step he’s going to come back.”
Mahrez’s regular position on the right of a front three was filled by Foden on Sunday and he scored a fairytale hat-trick against Manchester United.
And Guardiola has welcomed the news that the England youngster is on the brink of signing a new five year deal at the Etihad.
He said: “He’s a young player, we want him to stay for years and years. He’s an exceptional player. He grew up a lot, he has already been with us for many years.
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“He’s reliable in terms of his physical condition, he’s so intense in everything, so clever and every three days he is able to play. He knows he can do better.”
Pep also hinted he expects the 22-year-old to shine for England at the World Cup next month.
He said: “The impact from Phil when I arrived was ‘wow’. Even the second season he started to play in important games.
“He doesn’t feel the pressure, a bit like Bernardo Silva, the bigger the stage he plays better.”
Erling Haaland also helped himself to a hat-trick on Sunday and new boy Sergio Gomez says the Norwegian’s hunger is clear for everyone to see.
The Spain Under 21 ace – who was also briefly a team-mate at Borussia Dortmund – said: “I try to learn from him as much as I can, especially the hunger and ambition he has.
“He doesn’t settle for one goal, he wants to score the second or third, he wants more. The other day in the derby, after conceding the third goal he was a little bit angry.
“That’s because he wanted more, he wanted a clean sheet, so it’s important to learn that hunger and ambition he has.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
