Guardiola praise

[EnglishOxide]

Pep Guardiola hailed the "exceptional" Riyad Mahrez despite the Leicester City winger having a decisive penalty disallowed in the 2-1 defeat at Manchester City.

 

Mahrez thought he had equalised at the Etihad Stadium but had accidentally struck the ball twice when he slipped during his run-up.

It was Mahrez, too, who had earned the chance to level when he was brought down by Man City left-back Gael Clichy.

 

The Algeria international has received criticism from some Leicester fans this season after struggling to reproduce the consistent performances he did on his way to being crowned PFA player of the year last term.

 

Mahrez, too, has hinted he could consider his future at the end of the season after telling Sky Sports he thought about leaving last summer and wants to play in the Champions League every season and win trophies with a 'big club'.

Getty Images

Man City boss Guardiola, who has managed some of the world's best players at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, including Lionel Messi and Arjen Robben, rates Mahrez highly.

 

"Mahrez is so difficult to control in that position," said Guardiola, when asked about Clichy's challenge on Mahrez for Leicester's penalty.

 

"He did it to Gael, and last season to all the left-backs in the Premier League. He is an exceptional player.

 

"That is why it is so important to have the ball as much as possible. The less that Mahrez has the ball, the safer we are."

 

Guardiola's side were beaten 4-2 by Leicester at the King Power Stadium earlier this season and, since Craig Shakespeare took over, have won seven of their 11 Premier League games.

 

"Leicester are so complicated," he said. "I understood perfectly, not just in the game there, but here, the reason why there were champions last season.

 

"You cannot high press them because Schmeichel has an amazing pass. For that reason, you cannot pass and put the ball to the full-back or the striker, because of Okazaki, Slimani and Mahrez. It is so difficult to control that.

 

"That is why, all the credit to the team and what we have done to beat them.

 

"In the last two months, they have the numbers to be in the Champions League, the top four. They are a top, top, top, top team."

[Fox92]

Pep in

[the fox]

You know you have a special player in your hand when world class coaches are setting up in a different way because of him.

[CosbehFox]

Yeah but Dave and Steve who support West Ham say we are long ball 

[Mickyblueeyes]

Just now, the fox said:

You know you have a special player in your hand when world class coaches are setting up in a different way because of him.

And you know you have a decent team when top managers are considering their own set up when playing you. The other players in this team don't seem to get the accolades despite taking this club to unprecedented heights in the last four years. 

[sdb]

Pep wants Riyad and kasper then...

[Koke]

5 minutes ago, Cardiff_Fox said:

Yeah but Dave and Steve who support West Ham say we are long ball 

 

But Palace4Eva and DareToZaha thinks Zaha is better than Mahrez. 

[Poznan34]

13 minutes ago, EnglishOxide said:

"In the last two months, they have the numbers to be in the Champions League, the top four. They are a top, top, top, top team."

 

Four tops? High praise indeed! 

[ozleicester]

Kasper and Riyad to Man City... at least itll be good money

[the fox]

Just now, Mickyblueeyes said:

And you know you have a decent team when top managers are considering their own set up when playing you. The other players in this team don't seem to get the accolades despite taking this club to unprecedented heights in the last four years. 

?? I'm not discrediting anyone, but i'm gonna single out riyad (like pep did) because some in here don't like him/jump on his back every time they get the chance.

Go watch messi, neymar, Sanchez, hazard and many others. They all drift out of games just like mahrez.

"Some" in here were very salty when MOTD praised riyad vs Watford, it's like they envy him or something.

A lot of pettiness is in this forum, they want mahrez out but they refuse to see him in another good team in England because him preforming doesn't fit their agenda.

Apart from messi, I don't know any player in the world that can takeover a game for 90 minutes, but that's exactly what his critics want, a messi like performance.

You don't know how good he is until he plays with players that are in the same level technically. Did you see okazaki's goal, imagine mahrez linking up with hazard, ozil or KDB 5-6 times a game like that. That okazaki goal was just a taste of what can riyad do with a decent player to play off him. I can only imagine the praise that gray would've got for that.

[Sharpe's Fox]

Pep would praise Forest Green Rovers if he got a cup tie against them and probably go on about how big number nine Derek Jefferies is "an amazing player". He is a right quilt.

[brucey]

I read this twice and still have no idea what Pep is on about. "For that reason, you cannot pass and put the ball to the full-back or the striker, because of Okazaki, Slimani and Mahrez." That makes no sense whatsoever

[sishades]

It is very easy to praise the opposition when you win, and then praise Mahrez to the roof. Indirectly tapping him up.

[EnglishOxide]

1 minute ago, brucey said:

I read this twice and still have no idea what Pep is on about. "For that reason, you cannot pass and put the ball to the full-back or the striker, because of Okazaki, Slimani and Mahrez." That makes no sense whatsoever

I think he's saying Man City were forced to play it long because of our pressing. Thus making the game about 50/50 duels which we are good at winning.

 

If they were to play out from the back against us there's a high chance they would have to go wide and punt it anyway, or have it nicked by our strikers.

[davieG]

Sounds like excuses to cover his own sides poor showing.

[Mickyblueeyes]

2 minutes ago, the fox said:

?? I'm not discrediting anyone, but i'm gonna single out riyad (like pep did) because some in here don't like him/jump on his back every time they get the chance.

Go watch messi, neymar, Sanchez, hazard and many others. They all drift out of games just like mahrez.

"Some" in here were very salty when MOTD praised riyad vs Watford, it's like they envy him or something.

A lot of pettiness is in this forum, they want mahrez out but they refuse to see him in another good team in England because him preforming doesn't fit their agenda.

Apart from messi, I don't know any player in the world that can takeover a game for 90 minutes, but that's exactly what his critics want, a messi like performance.

You don't know how good he is until he plays with players that are in the same level technically. Did you see okazaki's goal, imagine mahrez linking up with hazard, ozil or KDB 5-6 times a game like that. That okazaki goal was just a taste of what can riyad do with a decent player to play off him. I can only imagine the praise that gray would've got for that.

I wasn't saying you were disrespecting anyone?

 

I was adding to your comment and specifically referring to Pep's "top top top top team" comment. I am perfectly aware of Mahrez, his contribution to this club and how he has progressed. His favourite goal of mine is still his cut in top corner finish against Blackpool in the championship (a goal he scored when his stock wasn't as high for the vast amount of people now telling me he apparently doesn't suit the Leicester way). 

 

It feels nice, as a Leicester fan and after months of low grade pundits referring to these players as "average" having probably one of the most successful managers openly admit they're a difficult team to play against. You want to know what the Leicester way is? Google Brian Little, Martin O'Neil, Jock Wallace etc, we are at our best when people leave a game with us and know they have been in a game. That pride of knowing you've run them through the trenches. 

 

I will Be sad when Mahrez goes as I truly believe that there is an opportunity with the finances and international acclaim that Leicester could step upon the next level. I would like Mahrez to be a part of that. We gave him his chance and protected him through his hard times (when his national team and these other scouts lambasted him) he is a player we have moulded. 

 

So, wherever you have assumed I've thrown an indirect dig at you, I'm sorry but that is not the case. It was simply a comment to add to yours that Leicester (and Riyad) had some nice words said about them. 

 

This is not Riyad Mahrez v Leicester City. It is Leicester City.

 

 

[Matt]

23 minutes ago, the fox said:

?? I'm not discrediting anyone, but i'm gonna single out riyad (like pep did) because some in here don't like him/jump on his back every time they get the chance.

Go watch messi, neymar, Sanchez, hazard and many others. They all drift out of games just like mahrez.

"Some" in here were very salty when MOTD praised riyad vs Watford, it's like they envy him or something.

A lot of pettiness is in this forum, they want mahrez out but they refuse to see him in another good team in England because him preforming doesn't fit their agenda.

Apart from messi, I don't know any player in the world that can takeover a game for 90 minutes, but that's exactly what his critics want, a messi like performance.

You don't know how good he is until he plays with players that are in the same level technically. Did you see okazaki's goal, imagine mahrez linking up with hazard, ozil or KDB 5-6 times a game like that. That okazaki goal was just a taste of what can riyad do with a decent player to play off him. I can only imagine the praise that gray would've got for that.

Quite right too, I remember you personally sticking up for Vardy, Morgan, Huth and others when they were (rightly) getting criticised earlier in the season.

 

On second thoughts, no, you don't comment on anyone but Mahrez or Slimani do you.

[the fox]

12 minutes ago, Matt said:

Quite right too, I remember you personally sticking up for Vardy, Morgan, Huth and others when they were (rightly) getting criticised earlier in the season.

 

On second thoughts, no, you don't comment on anyone but Mahrez or Slimani do you.

Do you want me to dig up comments about me defending Benny, RRZ, musa, drinky, mendy and calling for Matty to be back? Because I can.

[bovril]

39 minutes ago, Poznan34 said:

Four tops? High praise indeed! 

He can't help himself.

[Guest CityFan 06]

I think Mahrez would do better in a side like Arsenal or Manchester City. Possession based sides. Arsenal particularly I can see him doing well at. I don't think we're going to keep Schmeichel either.

[Matt]

11 minutes ago, the fox said:

Do you want me to dig up comments about me defending Benny, RRZ, musa, drinky, mendy and calling for Matty to be back? Because I can.

 

So out of those 6 players i'm really not sure what you've really had to defend them from.

 

Benny, I think most of us were calling for him to be played and he's done well, very well, rarely put a foot wrong.

Zeiler perhaps was slagged off.

Fair play you've stuck up for Musa, not sure how, although like i've said he's not been given a chance.

Drinkwater, meh, he's had an up and down season

And the other 2 there is nothing to defend them from they've been injured or ineligable.

 

So i'm not quite sure what you're trying to prove, barr my accusation you only comment on Mahrez and Slimani which generally, you do, the fact you would have 'dig' the comments up say alot

 

Besides the fact you've claimed you've had to 'defend' them contradicts what you've said about 'singling Riyad out because some in here don't like him/jump on his back every time they get a chance' aka making him a scapegoat (One of FT's favourite words)

[Nalis]

Yeah I've read this as Pep being interested in Kasper and Mahrez too.

 

Kasper would suit Man City, I dont get this 'dream move' to Man Utd bollix just because his Peter S played there. 

[the fox]

15 minutes ago, Matt said:

 

So out of those 6 players i'm really not sure what you've really had to defend them from.

 

Benny, I think most of us were calling for him to be played and he's done well, very well, rarely put a foot wrong.

Zeiler perhaps was slagged off.

Fair play you've stuck up for Musa, not sure how, although like i've said he's not been given a chance.

Drinkwater, meh, he's had an up and down season

And the other 2 there is nothing to defend them from they've been injured or ineligable.

 

So i'm not quite sure what you're trying to prove, barr my accusation you only comment on Mahrez and Slimani which generally, you do, the fact you would have 'dig' the comments up say alot

 

Besides the fact you've claimed you've had to 'defend' them contradicts what you've said about 'singling Riyad out because some in here don't like him/jump on his back every time they get a chance' aka making him a scapegoat (One of FT's favourite words)

1- let's see:

-Musa being hinted as a "fraud" and a league one player

-RRZ for not being as good as Kasper

-Mendy being called a "sick note" and just not good.

- drinky being decent the last 2 games he played but still getting last place in the match rating threads

Those are all valid reasons (but I can't saw I didn't criticise them, especially drinky)

 

2- first of all, the word accusation says is all, i'm not committing a crime

Secondly, I enjoy a little chat in the joke, funny photos, TV series thread and a couple other threads. And I almost have 2000 comments, I know its not as much as almost 25.000 but still a lot.

 

3- and he is, a quiet game for riyad =bad. A quiet game for Marc (for example) is decent to good. Not the same standards.

 

Yes I know I came off as a biased mahrez "fan" in my early days here, but that changed, i'm more involved than you might like to give me credit for.

[brucey]

16 minutes ago, Nalis said:

Yeah I've read this as Pep being interested in Kasper and Mahrez too.

 

Kasper would suit Man City, I dont get this 'dream move' to Man Utd bollix just because his Peter S played there. 

Kasper will not have liked how Pep and Man City treated Hart (his bestie when they were playing together there), no way is he going there.

Not to mention he will absolutely not go there if there's any chance he may sit on the bench for any games. 

[Monsell1976]

1 hour ago, the fox said:

You know you have a special player in your hand when world class coaches are setting up in a different way because of him.

Some don't appreciate that though, after last season, teams set up to crowd him out, and stop him playing, which has contributed to his early poor form, and playing in a side in poor form didn't help.

Foxes talk solution, a large proportion, think he shite and get rid, and then go on to worship Okazaki and king, does puzzle me sometimes.