Hazard ‘the best I ever saw’ – Mendy
CITY defender Benjamin Mendy has revealed that former Chelsea star Eden Hazard is the best player he has ever seen.
Hazard joined Chelsea in 2012 and soon established himself as one of the top players in the Premier League, spending a successful seven years at Stamford Bridge.
The Belgian winger finally completed his dream move to Real Madrid in the summer for a gigantic £90million fee and although things haven’t gone to plan at the Bernabeu just yet, he remains one of the most talented footballers in the game.
Mendy believes Hazard is the best he has ever seen on the pitch.
“Eden Hazard, the best player I have ever seen,” he told OTRO while showing off a signed Hazard jersey.
“The skill, everything. The pace, the shots, the strength and he’s a very good guy.”
Mendy is yet to face Hazard himself, but he could get the chance when City play Real Madrid in the Champions League last-16 in February.
Another shirt that Mendy revealed was a signed Raheem Sterling England jersey and the Frenchman also revealed he has one big hope for City’s star forward.
“This one, the top of the league Raheem Sterling,” he said.
“He’s on fire again this year. I hope he continues doing well like this and he keeps going, because we need him to score a lot.”
Mendy then also pointed out his own signed City shirts from Cup finals and Premier League winning seasons.
CITY will be looking to advance on their quest to once again retain the Carabao Cup when they face Oxford United tonight.
City come into the game off the back of an uplifting return to winning ways as they comfortably shrugged Arsenal aside on Sunday, and could move a step closer to attaining silverware this season with victory at the Kassam Stadium.
The clash will be a rematch from when the teams met in the competition in the third round last season, where City ran out 3-0 winners thanks to goals from Gabriel Jesus, Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden.
It’s a significantly improved Oxford side this year, however, who apart from a penalty loss in the EFL Trophy were on an 18-game unbeaten run until they finally lost outright to MK Dons on Saturday.
Their run to the quarter-finals has also been impressive with scalps over higher league opposition in West Ham United and Millwall and victories over Peterborough United and Sunderland.
How our writers think City should line up:
DANIEL MURPHY
While Oxford have improved since the last meeting they are still a League One side and a much changed City XI shouldn’t have any problems in advancing to the semis.
This will likely be Aleks Zinchenko’s first start since returning from injury but with Angelino also vying for time at left-back it’d be great to see the Ukrainian get an opportunity in his native midfield.
Elsewhere the game is a great chance for Pep Guardiola to give some more youngsters valuable game time.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Eric Garcia impressed against Preston earlier in the competition and it’d be nice to see the partnership renewed.
Likewise in midfield, Tommy Doyle deserves another shot after his stellar debut against Southampton in the last round.
After training with the team this week, Ian Carlo Poveda may also come in for his first taste of action this season.
JOE BRAY
Guardiola could easily make 11 changes from the side that won at Arsenal, but Gabriel Jesus will probably be needed to lead the line with Sergio Aguero only just returning to training. This is not a game to rush him back for.
Eric Garcia and Taylor Harwood-Bellis should partner at the back to give Nicolas Otamendi and Fernandinho a rest, while Aleks Zinchenko can continue his return from injury with a useful 90 minutes.
Tommy Doyle and Ian Poveda should come into midfield, with Adria Bernabe another youngster who could see minutes. Phil Foden would be the only other starter from Arsenal to keep his place.
I’d also like to see Scott Carson get a start. It makes sense to rest Ederson, and if there was an opportunity to recognise Carson’s hard work this season it would be this.