I’M NOT MENDY’S FATHER!
Pep admits he can’t control partying of tearaway City star
BEnJAmin mendy has thrown his manchester city future into further doubt after being caught partying at a nightclub in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The left back has played just 27 minutes since suffering a knee injury in november but has been back in training over the last six weeks following a setback.
mendy was not named in Pep Guardiola’s squad who played Fulham, and a video, obtained by the Daily Mirror, captured him in a manchester nightspot at 3.30am.
Guardiola confirmed that mendy, who is teetotal, trained at the city Football Academy hours after his late-night outing as he continues to build his fitness.
‘They are old enough to know what they have to do. i’m not his father,’ Guardiola said. ‘i would prefer him to go to sleep earlier but i don’t control the players in that situation.
‘ i am not frustrated, i’m a relaxed guy. it might not look like it but i sleep quite well.’
The 24- year- old infuriated Guardiola last September when he travelled to Wembley for Anthony Joshua’s world- title knockout of Alexander Povetkin.
mendy was subsequently late arriving for treatment on a knee injury the next day and was told to avoid the first team for a week. Guardiola has also warned the France international over his social media use.
city are looking to sign a left back this summer, with Benfica’s Alex Grimaldo and Ben chilwell at Leicester city under consideration. Sporting director Txiki Begiristain was at Benfica recently, with city also interested in teenager Joao Felix.
For now, Guardiola and city are concentrating on reclaiming top spot as they face cardiff tonight. Guardiola admits that dropping points would mean that the defence of their Premier League crown would be ‘finito’.
But cardiff to win was as long as 80-1 with one bookmaker yesterday, the longest odds ever offered in a League game. ‘We’ve won 19 of the last 20 games,’ Guardiola said. ‘You play top sides and low sides — the team is ready. The players go into the game knowing if they lose it’s finished, finito.
‘That is the best way you have to face it. A draw is not enough, you have to win, and that is what we’ve done since the newcastle defeat.’
Guardiola held a lengthy dressing-room inquest after losing at St James’ Park on January 29 and city have not blinked since. The length of cardiff ’ s odds are undoubtedly unfair, given they beat West ham and were six minutes from downing chelsea but for well- documented refereeing decisions.
The size of their task is daunting, however, with neil Warnock admitting yesterday that it is unenviable at best.
‘city have got two teams and i doubt any of our squad could get in either of them,’ said the cardiff manager.
‘But i doubt if anyone in the bottom half of the table could get in either of them. They’ve just taken the Premier League to another level. You’re pitting your wits against possibly the very best in the world.’