As pre-match messages of encouragement go, having your manager question your fitness questioned was hardly ideal for Riyad Mahrez. So it was slightly surprising to see him start in Manchester City's Champions League win over Copenhagen, or maybe that indicated that he's firmly second choice on the wing at present.
Either way, it was a chance for Mahrez to prove Pep Guardiola is wrong not to be playing him more, and the manager often takes these 'easier' games seriously, looking favourably on players who do the same.
"He knows [what he needs to do]," said Guardiola on Tuesday. "I know Riyad perfectly. We need him, he has to come back to his best and at his best Riyad in terms of personality, quality, ability, his love for this game how he enjoys to play. Step by step, he's going to come back.
