Man City ace Riyad Mahrez vows to recapture Player of the Year form after inconsistent 18 months at the Etihad
RIYAD MAHREZ has vowed to recapture the form which made him the PFA Player of the Year.
The £60million star is starting to find his dazzling feet again at Manchester City after a mixed start to his life at the Premier League champions.
And that could spell bad news for Leicester — the club where he made his name — when the teams meet in a crunch clash tomorrow evening.
Many Foxes fans believe the ‘Algerian Prince’ became one of the club’s greatest-ever players during his unforgettable stay.
His brilliant form was recognised by his fellow pros as Leicester swept to the title in fairytale fashion in 2015-16.
Yet he has never quite hit those heights since moving to champions City in the summer of 2018. Winger Mahrez said: “Of course that’s the level I want to reach again.
“That’s why we are all playing football, that’s why I’m here. We always have ambition and I am trying to get back there. I am feeling good.”
Mahrez believes he is on the right track — and his nomination for the Ballon d’Or this year suggests he might be right.
He added: “It’s very special for me to be nominated for awards like that and being in the last 30 of the Ballon d’Or. It’s something amazing.”
Part of the problem for Mahrez since joining City is that he has been in and out of manager Pep Guardiola’s team.
He has started only 42 games in all competitions during his 18-month stay and as a result struggled for consistency.
This season he has started only seven of 17 Premier League matches — despite fellow wideman Leroy Sane missing the whole campaign.
Last season, what we won was special — but we always try to do more. We always try to give more, to want more. That’s the only thing to do if you want to be the best.
Riyad Mahrez
And for a long time Guardiola had a habit of leaving Mahrez out in favour of his trusted stars for the big games.
Mahrez believes he needs a run of matches if he is to show his top form — and is convinced it will come for him. He was used to being virtually the first name on the team-sheet at Leicester, so it has taken some getting used to.
He told Sport360: “Of course, you want to play all the time — but the manager decides and you have to accept it.
“When the manager wants me to play, I will try to help the team. I just need to play, to keep going — I can give more and more.”
Mahrez was handed a start in the home game against Chelsea last month and repaid Guardiola by getting the winner.
Yet he was back on the bench against Manchester United and Arsenal, so will be desperate to get the nod against second-placed Foxes.
Despite the lack of action, Mahrez cannot have any regrets about making the move, having being part of a squad which won the domestic Treble last season.
While they have found it harder this time, he says there is still a hunger to bring more silverware to the Etihad.
He said: “Last season, what we won was special — but we always try to do more.
“We always try to give more, to want more. That’s the only thing to do if you want to be the best.”
Mahrez is quietly building an outstanding CV, featuring two Premier League medals as well as both domestic cups.
In addition, he led his nation to glory in the Africa Cup of Nations in the summer — something which boosted his game.
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He said: “What happened gave me a lot of confidence and I want to continue like that.
“I’m proud to be the captain of Algeria, it’s my country and I’m very happy to play for them, very happy to give everything and to win that cup.
“When I came back to the club Pep said, ‘Well done’ and that he was happy for me to win the African cup.”
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