PUEL BLAST AT LATE CITY RAID
LEICESTER boss Claude Puel has accused Manchester City of lacking “respect” over their pursuit of Riyad Mahrez.
Pep Guardiola’s Premier League leaders waited until 48 hours before the close of the January transfer window to move for one of the Foxes’ most important players.
Mahrez went AWOL in a bid to push through the transfer and an angry Puel said: “To make solicitation just one or two days before the transfer window closes, I don’t know if that is normal.
“We don’t have a lot of players with the same quality as Riyad. For some other teams it is not a difficulty to replace their players.
“We’re not like some great teams at the top of the table. We must manage better and also need some respect from others.”
Amid City’s interest, unsettled Mahrez failed to show for training before the club’s trip to Everton. He also did not play against Swansea as Leicester failed to win a game without him during his 10-day absence.
But he came off the bench at the Etihad in Saturday’s 5-1 loss to City and is now pushing for a recall tomorrow at home to Sheffield United in the FA Cup.
Puel revealed Mahrez had held clear-the-air talks with his team-mates before returning to the side for training last Friday.
The Frenchman added: “It was important Riyad gave his feeling in the dressing room to keep united with the players.
“The club, the players, the squad, the staff, tried to manage this situation with the best feeling.
“They welcomed him and now it is important for everyone at the club to move on.”