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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has hailed 21-goal winger Riyad Mahrez, whom he says “reads the game perfectly”.
The Algerian has been a key part of City’s Premier League title push, netting eight goals in their past 10 league games, for a season total of 10.
Mahrez has been influential in Europe as well with six Champions League goals for City, who are into the quarter-finals. Across all competitions this season, he already has 21 goals to his name.
The 31-year-old contributed 14, 13 and 12 goals over the previous three seasons, with his increase in production prompting praise from Guardiola – 21 is already a personal best.
“He’s an exceptional player,” Guardiola said at the news conference prior to Monday’s league game with Crystal Palace. “He’s a player that many teams would like to have.
“He’s scored a lot of goals, penalties, assists and everything and part of that is the quality. He reads the game perfectly when he has to attack or give an extra pass.”
The Spaniard added: “I try to push him a lot. We struggle together because I know the quality he has and he’s a player I admire for the fact he handles the pressure.
“He likes to play on the biggest stages. It’s difficult to find that and players like him. Not just me, the whole club has an incredibly high opinion of him and his quality, no doubt about that.”
Despite never before scoring as many goals as in 2021-22, Guardiola refused to label it a career-best season.
“I will not say it’s his best season or not because he’s played in the Premier League for many seasons at a high level. Last season, for example, he was exceptional,” Guardiola said.
“The final quarter of the season until the end he was so important and playing really well.”
Mahrez’s 10 Premier League goals mean he is the club’s joint-top scorer in the top flight this term along with Raheem Sterling. Kevin De Bruyne is just behind them on nine.
