CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Mendy and Sane strike up perfect partnership
BENJAMIN Mendy claims he has already struck up an understanding with City teammate Leroy Sane.
The two men combined to give the Blues their fourth goal in the 5-0 thrashing of Liverpool on Saturday after the Germany international had gone on as a substitute.
And Mendy said that after working hard with Sane on the training ground, he has already developed an instinct for what he would do – they played a one-two to open up the Liverpool defence before Sane thrashed his shot past Simon Mignolet.
“In training we work this with Sane and other players,” said Mendy, who was making his home debut for the Blues and it set to make his Champions League debut tonight.
“Leroy works on the left with me so I know him well. When he gave me the ball I knew what he would do, in my heart.
“He gave me the ball, I crossed it and … goal!”
Mendy was ecstatic after the game, and was videoed waving to fans through the one-way glass of the new tunnel, before hammering on the surface in his delight.
“I wanted to give everything,” he said. “Every day I have worked towards this, to make the fans happy.
“I liked the Premier League before I came here. It is very physical, but also mental – and I like that. With the stadiums and the fans, it is fantastic.”
Mendy has quickly made a reputation as a lively character on and off the field at City, but said there was no prospect of the Blues hitting the town to celebrate the win, their biggest against Liverpool since 1937.
“We are a very good team and a good group – but we won’t be celebrating because we have a game on Wednesday. Now it’s about going to sleep,” he said. IT’S 181 days since ‘that’ game in Monaco.
No other match hurt Pep Guardiola’s reputation so profoundly than that Champions League exit.
No other match had such a profound impact on his plans at City.
The origins of the team he fields tonight against Feyenoord can be traced back to a chastening evening in the South of France.
Defeat to Monaco ended Guardiola’s proud record of progressing to semi-finals or better in every season as a Champions League manager. It also punctured a certain aura.
A tactical naivety allowed a thrilling, but defensively flawed, Monaco to overturn a two-goal first leg deficit.
It exposed Guardiola’s tactics on a night when pragmatism should have secured safe passage to last eight.
But just as the Catalan refuses to be changed by the Premier League, the Monaco experience only strengthened his resolve to conquer Europe and England with the unbridled thrills of the French champions.
Guardiola’s transfer business this summer has created a team with the potential to be this year’s Monaco.
He has, of course, recruited two of the stars of Leonardo Jardim’s exceptional squad in Bernardo Silva and Benjamin Mendy.
Had Kylian Mbappe not rejected City’s advances, he would have secured Monaco’s - if not Europe’s crown jewel.
But even without the brilliant French striker, City’s squad is bursting with attacking intent.
Liverpool witnessed as much first hand on Saturday as the potential of Guardiola’s team was showcased to ruthless effect in a 5-0 win against one of their title rivals.
The hallmarks of Monaco are clear.
The rampaging full-backs Mendy and Kyle Walker - battering the opposition into submission.
The intricate skills of David Silva and Kevin de Bruyne scheming in tight areas.
Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus applying the finishing touch.
Bernardo wasn’t even required - Raheem Sterling was suspended.
Leroy Sane, from the bench, came to score twice.
That level of awesome potency is what gives City the potential to take Europe by storm, just as Monaco did. The question for Guardiola is whether they will have the defensive resolve and maturity to go further than Monaco or ultimately succumb to the wiles of a Juventus - just as the French side did last season. He went into the summer wanting a top-quality centre-back in the form of Virgil Van Dijk. Pep ended it trying to secure experienced cover in Jonny Evans. Ultimately, the transfer window closed with the unwanted Eliaquim Mangala welcomed back into the fold, while Vincent Kompany broke down on international duty. Part of what made Monaco so exciting last season was that defensive vulnerability, which was so ruthlessly exposed by City in their 5-3 first leg win in the round of 16. While Guardiola has been happy to emulate the attacking qualities of a team that won fans Europe-wide for their scintillating football - he will be all too aware of the similarities at the back too. James Robson