IT WILL BE TOUGH FOR PEP TO LEAVE
FORMER Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott believes Pep Guardiola’s squad can play a huge part in convincing the Catalan to stay at the Etihad.
Guardiola (below) has just 12 months left on his contract as he goes into his seventh season as City boss – and the hope is he will commit himself to a new deal in the coming months.
Lescott said: “Whenever he chooses to leave it will be a sad day. For what he’s achieved, the standard of the team has gone up and so has the club’s status.
“Hopefully Pep doesn’t leave because I honestly believe that as long as he’s in charge, City will be favourites to win every competition every year. If they keep on strengthening, given the age of the current squad, they will all be in their prime in the next three or four years. That would be tough to walk away from.”
After dominating the Premier League over the last decade, the expectation is for the Blues to now crack Europe.
Lescott added: “The Champions League is destined to come to City.
“If it comes this year, great. If it doesn’t then it’s bound to happen at some point.” way different area, from Paris, which is so different to Manchester. But my family is here as well, so Manchester is like a 50-50 home.”
Mahrez had the chance to win the title for
City last season – only to miss a penalty at West Ham that took the fight with Liverpool down to the final day.
He was substituted when the Blues were 2-0 down against Aston Villa and could only look on as his team-mates hit back to win the game.
He admitted: “I had scored 11 penalties before that, so I wasn’t thinking too much about West Ham. I was just thinking, ‘F***ing hell, what are we doing here, we’re playing at home and we’re losing 2-0 against Villa’.
“Sometimes you don’t feel good in a game. I didn’t that day, but other players came in and helped us win – that’s what our team is about.”
Mahrez will be happy to take penalties next season if needed, but he hinted he is ready to step aside for new signing Erling Haaland.
Mahrez revealed that Norway striker Haaland told him his heart was set on joining City when they met on holiday in Mykonos last summer.
He said: “I met Erling on holiday and we spent an afternoon together. I didn’t try to convince him. He wanted to come already. He asked me about City and I said, ‘It’s very good, you should come’. I think I’m staying on penalties, but we will see. I am open, I’m not really selfish.”
City hope that Haaland’s prowess in front of goal will finally deliver the Champions League after a series of near-misses.
Mahrez added: “I think we will be there (the final) again this season. Then, when you’re there, sometimes you need a bit of luck, sometimes you need talent.”