‘He knows what he needs to do’ – Pep Guardiola issues advice for Man City star amid lack of form

Riyad Mahrez must improve his physical condition if he wants to get back into the Manchester City team, according to Pep Guardiola.

The 31 year-old, who signed from Leicester City in 2018, penned a new two-year contract with the Premier League Champions this summer.

Mahrez has played a key role for Pep Guardiola’s side, particularly in the UEFA Champions League, where the Algerian has netted 13 goals for the Sky Blues.

The winger was key to City reaching their first Champions League Final in 2021, scoring against both Borussia Dortmund in the Quarter-Finals and both legs of the Semi-Finals against Paris Saint Germain.

Mahrez scored three goals across the tie – once in Paris and twice in the second-leg at the Etihad Stadium.

However, the forward has made just four starts for City so far this season, and has come under criticism for his recent performances.

Mahrez has failed to score in any of his past 13 appearances, with his last City goal coming during the agnonsing 3-1 loss to Real Madrid last season.

He was on the bench again for Sunday’s win over United and has started just two of City’s eight Premier League games this season.

Ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash against FC Copenhagen, Pep Guardiola has issued advice for the forward, amid a poor run of form.

“He knows [what he needs to do],” said Guardiola. “I know Riyad perfectly. We need him, he has to come back to his best and at his best Riyad in terms of personality, quality, ability, his love for this game how he enjoys to play. Step by step, he’s going to come back.

“He has to come back in a better physical condition and after the best will come because as a player I cannot teach him anything because he is too good.”

With Phil Foden scoring three at the weekend and Jack Grealish coming into form, it is only going to get harder for the Algerian winger to regain his place in the team.

City’s game with Copenhagen could offer Mahrez a route back into the team, although Guardiola warned against underestimating their opponents – especially after thrashing United.

“That is the problem and after the game against United this is the biggest issue. Hopefully I can tell them and show them to pay a lot of attention because it is not easy to break the structure they have against Sevilla – I saw this morning and they were brilliant, Sevilla struggled to break them.

“I know what they can do, they have a quality to play and are brave to go forward, when they have the ball they don’t just play long balls to the striker. They have the ability and courage to play and we have to try to force them to play long balls but they have many many things. I was surprised this morning when I watched how many good things they did.”