The World Cup winner’s time at the Etihad has not been straightforward, but he admits he is inspired by his coach
Manchester City full-back Benjamin Mendy has hailed the influence that manager Pep Guardiola has had on his game, saying he wants to “give everything” for the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss.
The 24-year-old arrived from Monaco in the summer of 2017 and has thrived under the Catalan’s tutelage.
Despite being publicly criticised by his boss last month for turning up late to training last month, he has explained just what it is about Guardiola that inspires the best from his players.
“The manager has made football feel so, so good. But he works every time, every day. I don’t think he sleeps,” Mendy said.
“Every time you see him, it’s football, football, football. When he speaks you feel he loves his job, he loves to work to find the solution and when you see this and hear him speak, you look at him and you want to give everything on the pitch for him.”
A serious knee injury has interrupted Mendy’s time at the club, but he has done his best to take the silver lining from that long spell on the sidelines.
“It’s not easy to be on the sidelines to wait to see every game, and when you see the team play very, very well, you want to jump on the pitch, but you can’t. Every game I waited and stayed with the team all the time as I didn’t want to be back home,” he said.
“When you see the game from the side of the pitch you learn a lot, so I watched every game, and sometimes after the game I ask questions to Pep and Mikel Arteta and they explain to me some of the good work.”
Mendy managed only nine appearances for City last season before succumbing to ligament damage, though he was still sufficiently fit to be included in France’s World Cup squad for Russia 2018.
He has since recovered impressively, starting the new Premier League season by chalking up four assists in his first five appearances of the campaign.
Following the international break, Manchester City, who currently top the Premier League on goal difference from Chelsea, will tackle Burnley at the Etihad Stadium.