Newport vs Manchester City: Pep Guardiola ‘sad’ at not being able to play ‘incredibly talented’ Riyad Mahrez more

Newport vs Manchester City: Pep Guardiola ‘sad’ at not being able to play ‘incredibly talented’ Riyad Mahrez more
Pep Guardiola says he is sad to keep benching Riyad Mahrez.The Algeria winger has struggled for playing time since joining Manchester City in a 60million deal from Leicester last summer, havingstarted just 10 league games for Guardiolas side, with his last coming in a 3-1 win at Southampton in December.2

Riyad Mahrez has been unable to hold down a regular starting place at City

He is behind Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva and Leroy Sane in the pecking order, but is likely to feature against Newport County in the FA Cup fifth-round on Saturday, which is live on talkSPORT.When asked about Mahrezs lack of first-team action, City boss Guardiola said: I have a reason. I am the reason. He is not absolutely guilty or he doesnt feel any special reason why.I am sad because he is training incredibly, he is an incredibly talented player but in this moment we have five strikers – for example in the last games Leroy hasnt played.

FA Cup LIVE on talkSPORT

SATURDAY 16TH FEBRUARY12:30 Brighton v Derby talkSPORT15:00 AFC Wimbledon v Millwall talkSPORT17:30 Newport County v Manchester City talkSPORTSUNDAY 17TH FEBRUARY13:00 Bristol City v Wolves talkSPORT16:00 Doncaster Rovers v Crystal Palace talkSPORTMonday 18TH FEBRUARY19:30 Chelsea v Manchester United –talkSPORTWe have incredible players, like for example Bernardo [Silva] and Raz [Raheem Sterling] in top, top form and that is the only reason why.Theres no particular reason, like being upset or something like that.He is a guy we are happy with, but unfortunately I am not kind with him, in the fact I cannot give him the minutes he deserves, so Im sorry, thats all I can say.Mahrez has nine goals and six assists in a City shirt this term and Guardiola has trusted him in big games.He has started against Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool, but missed a penalty late on in a goalless draw at Anfield in October.2

Riyad Mahrez is likely to start against Newport County in the FA Cup fifth-round on Saturday

Guardiola added: I am unfair in the fact that if he had played the minutes that the others had played he would have been in the top level like the players who are playing.Its not easy for one guy who does not play regularly to come in and play at a high, high level.He has a level but if we give him five or six games in a row playing he is going to play at the level of Sterling or Bernardo or the players who play. In two months when we played four or five games in a row he was incredible, outstanding.I dont have any doubts about his quality, just to keep going, not complain too much, move forward and fight more and more and more, his time is coming.Its coming and Im pretty sure he is going to play good.

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'Reiss Nelson is better than Jadon Sancho' - Arsenal fans

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Liverpool legend Graeme Souness has claimed that the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona will be looking sign Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, and hopes that there is no repeat of what happened with Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho. Both Salah and Mane were joint Golden Boot winners, along with
Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah will 'have their heads turned
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Graeme Souness believes Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah could have their heads turned if Real Madrid or Barcelona try to sign them. The pair have been unstoppable for Liverpool this season as they shared the Premier League Golden Boot, along with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
NewsNow: Sadio Mane news | Breaking News & Search 24/7

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The club added: "Manchester City and Raheem are committed to working with all relevant parties and organisations to support the objective of eradicating racism from the game." Sterling responded to Saturday's incident on social media by accusing the British press of helping to "fuel racism" by their portrayal of young, black footballers.
Champions League match preview and confirmed team news as

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Chelsea transfer news: Blues demanding at least £60million

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Sports Mole provides team news, predicted lineups and a full preview of Wednesday's Champions League tie between Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan. The Lilywhites' late recovery against PSV
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Manchester United have failed to progress since I was manager

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talkSPORT.com round up all the latest transfer news and football gossip from Sunday's papers and online… Zinedine Zidane plans to sell Gareth Bale this summer with Real Madrid chasing Eden Hazard, the Chelsea winger.
Arsenal board slammed by Premier League legend over transfer

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Ruben Loftus-Cheek: Chelsea midfielder to miss remainder of

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Euro 2020 qualifiers: Courtois makes absolute howler for Belgium against Russia and Chelsea fans LOVE it - 'Karma continues to hunt reptiles' has just gifted Russia a goal with an
Euro 2020 qualifiers: Courtois makes absolute howler for
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Euro 2020 qualifiers: Courtois makes absolute howler for Belgium against Russia and Chelsea fans LOVE it - 'Karma continues to hunt reptiles'
~ Euro 2020 qualifiers: Courtois makes absolute howler for

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Roy Keane has accused Manchester United midfielder Fred of "cheating" his teammates during the Red Devils' 2-0 defeat to Manchester City. United legend Keane was not impressed with the way
Roy Keane accused Man Utd player of cheating in Man City loss

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