Manchester City supporters were left baffled by the decision to assign Riyad Mahrez to penalty duties and bemoaned the fact Erling Haaland never seems to be on the pitch when they’re awarded one.
Pep Guardiola’s side are through to the last 16 of the Champions League following a 0-0 draw with Borussia Dortmund that also takes the Bundesliga giants into the next round.
Both sides knew that a draw would be enough to go through, meaning they’ll both take the result, though it could have been so much more for Pep Guardiola’s men.
City went closest to breaking the deadlock after being gifted a 57th-minute penalty as Mahrez went down under Emre Can’s reckless challenge.
The winger stepped up to potentially win the game for the Citizens in their Champions League contest against Borussia Dortmund – but he directed his stop to the bottom left and it was saved by goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
For the second consecutive Champions League game, Mahrez missed a penalty, his third miss in his last four attempts for City in all competitions.
It’s hard to explain City’s persistence with a player who has missed more penalties than he has scored goals in this season’s Champions League. Haaland had left the pitch, but that is no excuse for confusion.
Mahrez has missed 10 of his 32 career penalties and Ilkay Gundogan, to offer just one alternative, has missed two of his 17. Mahrez also ranks seventh in the list of worst takers in Premier League history, of those who have taken at least 10.
The spot-kick disappointment compounded what has been a difficult start to the campaign for the Algerian.
Man City fans have raged online at the poor shot, saying that it is a running trend given that the attacker has previous in missing key opportunities from the spot.
One fumed: “Riyad Mahrez is the worst penalty taker in the world.” Another said: “Riyad Mahrez is comfortably one of the worst penalty takers of all time, the bloke misses them for fun.”
A third stated: “”Riyad Mahrez has to be the worst penalty taker in history (of players to regularly take penalties). Of the 32 penalties he’s taken, he’s missed 10.”
Someone raged: “Mahrez missed four penalties in 2022 now. Scored 22 out of 32 in his career. Bit of a mystery as to why he’s still taking them, that is a pretty a mediocre record #mcfc.”
A last one said: “Why does Mahrez keep taking Man City’s penalties?! His record from the spot is atrocious #ManCity #UCL.”
Some Man City fans bemoaned the fact Erling Haaland never seems to be on the pitch when they’re awarded a penalty.
How many penalties has Mahrez missed in his career now? It’s stupid he’s second-in line behind Haaland, especially when Gundogan is on the pitch 🤦♂️ #DORMCI
— Georges Harrison (@GHarrisonMedia) October 25, 2022
Also, the percentage of our penalties that we get awarded when Haaland’s off the field and Mahrez is on it is infuriating
— Leo🇧🇼 (@mcfcIeo_) October 25, 2022
Man city getting penalties always when Haaland is off the pitch only for Mahrez to make me cry.
— X♠️ (@DaveryXX) October 25, 2022
