MENDY THANKS GUARDIOLA FOR HELPING HIM SETTLE AT CITY

Manchester City star Benjamin Mendy is grateful to his coach Pep Guardiola and his wife for their efforts at helping him settle at the club. The Frenchman joined last summer but he has barely played games for the Cityzens due to fitness issues.

Guardiola made it a priority to get the best fullbacks in the game when he took over at the Etihad. The Spaniard spent over £125 million to complete deals for Mendy and Kyle Walker, with Danilo as double assistant.

Mendy and Walker took over after City cleared its former aging fullbacks in Gael Clichy, Pablo Zabaleta, AleksKolarov and BacarySagna. Guardiola has used the flanks very well in a productive attacking football this last season.

Mendy says Guardiola is the kind of manager that players hope to play under. He adds that he has learnt a lot about life from Guardiola than on football matters. The France international, who is at the ongoing World Cup in Russia, revealed he chatted with Guardiola on Whatsapp when he was considering signing for City from AS Monaco. Mendy said he chatted with the coach and his wife, who was helping him with his French.

The player saw Guardiola as family rather than as a coach. He arrived at Etihad injured and only featured in some games before his knee ligament injury. He was sidelined for most of the season and only just returned to full fitness and is deemed lucky to make the star studded French national team for the World Cup.

Mendy said the coach never forgot him when he was injured as early as November. He spoke of how he ran out to the pitch despite doctor’s advice when Raheem Sterling won a game for City against Southampton. Despite the concerns, Guardiola asked him to be careful and was smiling about it. The player is better fitness wise and is expected to repay the investment in him this forthcoming season.