Riyad Mahrez discloses what Pep Guardiola told Man City players on the pitch after RB Leipzig draw
Riyad Mahrez has disclosed that Pep Guardiola instructed Manchester City’s players not to be too disheartened by the outcome of their match against RB Leipzig on Wednesday.
Manchester City had a strong start to the game, scoring in the first half, but missed several chances to score again and ultimately allowed RB Leipzig to equalize late in the match.
Although RB Leipzig posed a more significant challenge in the second half, the feeling among the City team was that they had let the game slip away. Mahrez was responsible for City’s opening goal, which came after he received a through-ball from Jack Grealish and expertly put it in the back of the net.
In the second half, RB Leipzig increased the pressure on City and ultimately scored an equalizer through Josko Gvardiol’s header.
After the match, Guardiola assembled his players into a huddle, and Mahrez has revealed what the manager said to the team. “He just said ‘keep going guys, it’s okay, we were good, smile and go and see the fans together,'” he said.
“We played very good in the first half – we controlled the game. In the second half they were better. We didn’t control the ball like we did in the first half. It happens. Sometimes we concede chances, and they’ll score – when your opponent is very good you have to be ready.
“We had good chances to kill the game. In the end 1-1 is not a bad result – they have to come to Manchester, and we will see in three weeks.”
Guardiola also explained his message after the game: “They were heads down. I said why are you heads down, be heads up, it was really good the way you play. If people don’t like it it doesn’t matter.”
Mahrez also explained his great goal. He added: “Jack [Grealish] is running inside, and I’m making a run. He plays me with a good pass and I think I’m alone.
“I see the defender in front of me, so I left the ball – I don’t know if he touched it or not – and it came in front of me, and I was one v one with the goalkeeper and I reversed. I think I surprised him thinking I was going to take a touch or something.”
Riyad Mahrez discloses what Pep Guardiola told Man City players on the pitch after RB Leipzig draw
