Puel: We’ll help Mahrez bounce back
RIYAD MAHREZ has been told there is a way back for him at Leicester.
The former PFA Footballer of the Year has gone AWOL after trying to force through a move to Manchester City.
City made a fourth and final offer of £60million on deadline day which was rejected and sent the Algerian star into meltdown.
He has not been seen since, angering his team-mates and fans alike and putting him on the brink of a £200,000 fine by the club.
Some players are thought to be furious Mahrez went missing on the eve of their midweek clash at Everton, but manager Claude Puel insists he has not burned all his bridges. He will not be in action against Swansea today but Puel says there is a way back for one of the stars of Leicester’s shock title win two years ago.
“He’s a valuable player for the squad, and the players in the squad are his friends,” said Puel. “Riyad is a good player and a good man. I respect him.
“All the staff and players here will help him come back with a good mentality and a positive attitude to enjoy his football with his team-mates.
“All the noise around Riyad has made it difficult but we can’t change anything – the window is shut. It’s not a good situation.”
Carlos Carvalhal’s only concern as he plots a path to safety for Swansea is the speed of the internet in South Wales.
The Portuguese boss spends almost every waking hour analysing opposition teams online and has racked up a bill amounting to hundreds of pounds.
Back-to-back league wins over Liverpool and Arsenal have given them hope of avoiding the drop, and Carvalhal said: “I was frustrated because the internet here is very slow. The club must have spent a lot of money because I used the 4G.
“I spent a lot of money, but now the internet is OK.”