Riyad Mahrez was not included in the Manchester City matchday squad for the 3-0 win over Huddersfield Town yesterday.
The Algerian international’s omission was not down to an injury, according to Pep Guardiola, who claimed the Algerian wasn’t selected due to “rotation.”
The City manager instead had a bench that included Bernardo Silva, David Silva, Phil Foden and Gabriel Jesus. Fans on Twitter felt that Guardiola was very much justified in leaving out Mahrez:
He has not played well enough to justify a place in the squad.
— Knackered Boots (@no_new_boots) 20 January 2019
Sterling and Sané are just ahead of him. He must work hard to be in the starting eleven…
— Whawha (@Momaverick83) 20 January 2019
Saving him for Burton
— Stephen Jordan (@flashcity69) 20 January 2019
Needs to be sold asap.
— Tim (@NoChillsTim) 20 January 2019
Pep knows his players’ capabilities and strengths. He plays them whenever, wherever like chess. He rotates them to maintain pressure or change tactics. So being a sub doesn’t mean yr second-best. In fact, being a sub is like the ‘Joker’ in a card game!
— HamCity (@ArgentineEPL) 21 January 2019
Mahrez. Calm down everyone. Squad rotation. #mcfc
— Nick Reed (@reednic) 20 January 2019
He has driven up standards in Sterling and Sane but Guardiola will want Mahrez to insert his own name back into the conversation through improved performances..
This sums is up.
— Account2018 (@Account20182) 21 January 2019
He’s not been playing well enough to warrant a place in the squad..
— Graeme Riley (@Graeme3105) 20 January 2019
It shows you the strength in depth the Citizens possess that they are able to leave their record signing out with very little justification being needed.
Since arriving from Leicester City for £60m in the summer, Mahrez has certainly shown flashes of brilliance, but he has lacked consistency.
The 27-year-old has scored nine goals and provided eight assists in 30 appearances this campaign, but the likes of Sterling and Sane are simply playing better than him at the moment. He’ll need to up his game to get more regular first-team action.
