Pep hits back in Mahrez dispute
® PEP GUARDIOLA insists he didn’t disrespect Leicester over the Riyad Mahrez fiasco.
Foxes boss Claude Puel this week accused Manchester City of showing a lack of respect with a late bid for the winger.
Mahrez handed in a transfer request once he knew Guardiola wanted to sign him.
But the deal fell through when City bosses refused to meet the £95m asking price, leaving Mahrez devastated.
The Algeria international missed two games as he tried to clear his head before returning to the fold as Leicester were beaten 5-1 at the Etihad last Saturday.
City have not responded officially but dispute Puel’s version of events, having first made their interest in Mahrez known a week before deadline day.
Clear
And Guardiola insists his club did nothing wrong.
“It was so clear what happened,” he said.
“The club made a statement and we try to do the best for us, and respect the opponents.”
City, who visit Wigan in the FA Cup on Monday, have been boosted by the return to full training of Gabriel Jesus.
The Brazil striker has been out since suffering knee ligament damage at Crystal Palace on New Year’s Eve.
Guardiola said: “Today he is going to play in part of the session with the group.
“I don’t know when he’ll be ready definitely to be with us, with the team, but the first step is to train.
“He made one or two weeks training alone and today is the first with the team.”
Jesus’ fellow City striker Sergio Aguero was yesterday named the Premier League’s player of the month for January after scoring five goals, including a hat-trick against Newcastle.
Bournemouth’s Eddie Howe is manager of the month after important wins over Arsenal and Chelsea.