Composed players are relishing title race, says Mahrez
RIYAD Mahrez says the City players are loving the pressure of the title race.
And he drew a stark comparison between the calm, collected atmosphere in the Blues’ dressing room and the excitable trip into the unknown which he experienced at Leicester.
The Algeria international scored the winning goal at Bournemouth although he admits he mishit it which ensured the Blues finished the weekend top of the table for the first time in more than two months.
Liverpool slipped up by drawing at Everton, and with nine games left, City have a one-point lead at the top.
The Foxes, with Mahrez a key figure, were five points clear of second-placed Tottenham at this stage, and made it over the finish line by winning six and drawing three as Tottenham imploded.
“At Leicester we had a feeling where no-one had won the league, but here everyone has won it so it’s not the same thing,” said Mahrez, whose goal was his first since the win at Watford on December 4 - the last time City stayed top of the table.
“Here it’s more calm and composed. We know what to do.
“At Leicester, everyone was like ‘We have to win! We have to win! Quick!’
“There is no comparison. Everyone here is good, everyone is focused and we will try to win every game.”
That experience of winning the title is being flagged up as a big factor in the games that remain the only players in the Liverpool squad with that experience are ex-City men James Milner and Daniel Sturridge, the latter winning it with Chelsea.
The win on the south coast switched the pressure on to Jurgen Klopp’s men and they could not find a way past Everton.
“When you win and the opponent plays the next day maybe it’s a little bit of an advantage, and adds a little bit of pressure,” said Mahrez.
“But they are a big team and they don’t need an advantage. There are nine games to go and anything can happen. We just have to focus on our own game.”
Mahrez speared his goal inside the near post to give City a second 1-0 win on the bounce and he pointed out that Leicester strung together a sequence of four consecutive one-nils on the trot at this stage.
“Sometimes it’s enough and you have to take it,” he said. “We are not always going to win 3-0 or 4-0. We beat West Ham 1-0 and now we’ve done it again.
“I remember when I was at Leicester, around this time we were winning every game 1-0. It’s a win, very good.”
The fact that the winner was a little scruffy did not worry Mahrez one bit.
Asked about scoring a rare rightfooted goal, he said: “I was lucky to be honest! Sometimes when it comes to my right I just close my eyes and shoot.
“I tried to shoot across but hit the floor at the same time so it went inside the post.”