Sagna believes Ben is getting back to his best for Blues
BACARY Sagna knows what it’s like to play as a full-back for Pep Guardiola and the former City defender believes Benjamin Mendy is getting better and better following his injury turmoil.
Mendy arrived in Manchester from Monaco for £52.75m in 2017 as Guardiola sought to revamp his fullbacks, with Kyle Walker arriving for a similarly lofty price in the same summer.
The Frenchman quickly showed that he was worth every penny with some brilliant performances down the left as he soon adapted to the Premier League, but in just his fifth appearance for the club his injury hell would begin.
Mendy ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament which ruled him out for much of the season, though he recovered in time to be a part of France’s World Cup-winning squad in 2018.
However, he would then go on to miss a large chunk of the following season as well after undergoing more knee surgery and suffering various muscle injuries.
After nearly two years on the sidelines and his future at the club coming into question, Mendy has now made just one less appearance this season (23) than he managed in the two years previous combined for City (24).
While there have still been some minor setbacks, Sagna believes that Mendy is finally beginning to look like the player he was upon his arrival at the club and explained that his renewed focus is a big reason why. “Well he’s more focused now – you don’t see him so much on social networks,” said Sagna.
“He had a big injury which is very difficult to come back from, so everyone blamed it on not being focused.
“But after such a big injury, it takes at least one year to come back to your best level and he’s now coming back at the right time.
“He’s getting stronger and more confident and the way he moves is more fluid. He’s getting better and better.”
Sagna spent three years at City with his final season coming under the tutelage of Guardiola, and the Frenchman explained what the Blues boss demands from a full-back.
“You have to be more than a fullback, you have to be a midfield player and a sprinter too,” he explained to Goal.
“It’s not so difficult, you just have to be focused during training because whenever he asks you to do something and be at a certain point, you have to be ready.”