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BENJAMIN Mendy is eyeing a place in France’s World Cup squad after winning the Premier League with City.
Mendy missed seven months of the season after rupturing ligaments in his right knee during City’s 5-0 win over Crystal Palace in September.
But the 23-year-old left-back made his comeback in last month’s win over Swansea and was afforded more game time on Sunday as he replaced Fabian Delph with 33 minutes left to play of the 0-0 draw with Huddersfield.
Now Mendy, who has just four France caps, says he is ready for a place in Didier Deschamps’ 23-man squad for this summer’s showpiece in Russia.
“I’ll do like everyone else and try to get as much playing time as possible,” Mendy told French outlet SFR Sport.
“We’ll see when the list comes out. Physically and mentally, I’m at full power and I’m ready to go to Russia.”
Fabian Delph, who has deputised at left-back for the majority of the season in Mendy’s absence, is in contention to go to the World Cup with England.
Last week City manager Pep Guardiola talked up the former Aston Villa man’s chances of taking part in the tournament.
“I would like to see Fabian in the World Cup, I think he deserves it,” Guardiola said. “He can play in different positions. Also, he has a good heart, he’s a fantastic person and I think he’s a guy for the group.” PEP Guardiola knows the rest of the Premier League will come gunning for City next season.
United, in turns dangerous and dismal this season, will surely make a better effort of closing the yawning gap that currently exists between first and second place – and will, no doubt, spend accordingly this summer.
Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal likewise will be hungry to show they are not there simply to make up the numbers as City parade to another title. The Blues could be forgiven a rare off day against Huddersfield as they prepared to get Sunday’s celebrations under way.
The day was always going to be about receiving the trophy rather than the result.
And Guardiola gave a nod to that in acknowledging that his team were a little too ‘relaxed’ to see off the Yorkshiremen – and that there will be renewed pressure when the new season starts in August.
“The game showed me how difficult everything is. It looks easy when you’ve won a lot of games – (but) it’s so tough, and next season will be tougher because the opponents want to beat you,” he said.
“Maybe we will be a little bit relaxed – and you have to be focused if you want to maintain what we have done this season. Help us to understand, this game for example, how difficult it will be next season. Sport is like this, it’s so complicated.”
The Catalan allowed himself to savour the moment; grinning with his players, lapping up the adulation from the stands, bantering with Sky pundits Thierry Henry and Graeme Souness and looking more relaxed than he has in any press conference or on any touchline this season. But only for a moment or two. In the next breath the intensity that has driven Guardiola, and in turn his team, was back.
“In football you never rest on laurels,” he said. “Business is never, ever finished.
“If you don’t improve then you are going backwards.
“Always you can do something better and to achieve something new. That’s our philosophy.”
That, worryingly for City’s rivals, means preparations for next season – and beyond – are already under way.
Guardiola, set to enter talks over a contract extension, hinted he could be in it for the long haul, out to create a legacy to compare to the one he helped form in Barcelona.
“I feel so comfortable here,” said Guardiola. “We feel we are loved. It’s nice.
“It’s a club without a long tradition of winning titles, but in six or seven years, three Premier Leagues is not bad.” And in the short-term, it will mean adding to a squad that has dominated the Premier League with yet more talent. Another striker and a defensive midfielder to supplement – and eventually replace – the tireless Fernandinho are on his wanted list. Of course, others – particularly United – will also hit the transfer market with deep pockets and serious intentions. But while Jose Mourinho’s two seasons at Old Trafford have been marked by progress that has been painful for United supporters, both in terms of its pace and its style, it feels like City are starting to roll with ominous momentum. If the titles won by Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini were delicious appetisers for City fans starved of success, Guardiola has the air of a man – backed by unwavering support within the club – ready to deliver a main course that could take years to feast on. Anthony Jepson