Winger Riyad Mahrez has said he will not seek a move away from Premier League champions Manchester City in search of more playing time after helping Pep Guardiola’s side win their second successive title over the weekend.
Mahrez, who became the club’s record signing last year at a reported 60 million pounds ($77.78 million), started only 14 league games this season as Guardiola opted for Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane on the wings.
The Algerian has chipped in with seven league goals and four assists this season, including one in the 4-1 win at Brighton and Hove Albion that sealed the title, and said he would not shy away from the competition for a starting spot.
“I’m very happy here,” Mahrez told reporters. “I’m not going somewhere else because I don’t play.
“It’s part of the game. I need to be strong, stay strong. It’s part of my personality, I never hide from things.”
Mahrez, who was the Professional Footballers’ Association player of the year when he led Leicester City to the 2015-16 league title, said he knew it would be difficult to earn his spot in Guardiola’s record-breaking team.
City won the title last season with a record 100 points, winning 32 games and scoring 106 goals in the process.
“It’s not easy to come to a team who are settled and have the players who play,” Mahrez added. “That squad did everything last season.
“I knew it wouldn’t be easy in my first year but I’m very confident in myself and have no doubts about my quality.”
City, who also won the League Cup earlier this season, have the chance to seal an unprecedented English domestic treble when they take on Watford in the FA Cup final on Saturday.
REUTERS