Pep blasts Mendy critics after Covid breach
CITY BOSS SAYS COVID-BREACH PLAYER MADE MISTAKE - BUT HE’S NOT ALONE
CITY manager Pep Guardiola has told Benjamin Mendy’s critics to look themselves in the mirror as the club launched an investigation after the player broke Covid-19 rules on New Year’s Eve.
Guardiola said Mendy hosted his nephew and girlfriend to celebrate the new year and that they had both tested negative, but he admitted the player made a mistake.
But he also said there would be far bigger misdemeanours committed on New Year’s Eve when it came to breaches of coronavirus regulations and that people shouldn’t be too quick to judge.
Guardiola said: “He had good intentions with the heart that he has, but he has to understand some things. He invited two or three people on New Year’s Eve, they all tested negative, but they were at his house. I would like to know how many people had five or six people at home on New Year’s Eve, I’m pretty sure many.
“Normally in society we judge the other one, it would be better if we judge ourselves.
“I’m pretty sure Benjamin will improve on that and next time he will be more careful.”
Guardiola added: “He broke the rules, I’m not justifying it, he cannot do it. But don’t give lessons to the other ones, don’t put examples from the players for society.
“We all have to do what we have to do. Of course it was not correct what he has done, but don’t judge him too much, if we look at what we have done New Year’s Eve, many, many people have maybe done the same.
“It’s easy to judge others. If everyone put the demanding intentions on ourselves everyone would be better.”
Guardiola also rejected the idea that footballers were under greater scrutiny as a result of their standing and public profile.
He said: “We do our job, we appear more on social media, but I don’t think footballers are more important than doctors, architects, teachers,” he said.
“We have to follow the rules [like everybody]. I’ve said this to the players many times, the virus is here, but we know that the government have to say what we have to do.” Mendy was on the bench for City’s Premier League win over Chelsea yesterday and Guardiola said he never considered leaving him out of the trip to Stamford Bridge.
He said: “He’s part of the group, he’s one of the good guys, he’s beloved in our group, he was one of the most active players in the stands. He’s a special guy for all of us and he has an incredible heart.”
A City statement said: “The club is aware of a New Year’s Eve Covid-19 breach involving Benjamin Mendy and the subsequent media reporting of it.
“While it is understood that elements of this incident have been misinterpreted in the reports, and that the player has publicly apologised for his error.
“The club is disappointed to learn of the transgression and will be conducting an internal investigation.”
The club is aware of a New Year’s Eve Covid-19 breach involving Benjamin Mendy Manchester City