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Is it any wonder that Benjamin Mendy is playing within himself for Manchester City this season?
After two long-term injuries interrupted his start at City, Mendy encountered a series of minor layoffs last season. He still hasn’t been a full season without some kind of injury problem stopping his momentum, if he was able to generate any to begin with.
In fact, Mendy has missed twice as many games (116) for City as he has played (58) since joining in 2017, with an extraordinary 12 forced injury absences ranging from one game lost to 43. His total injury absences add up to 658 days unavailable of his 1,174 days as a City player.
That’s 56 percent of his time at Etihad injured, missing 69 percent of City’s games in that time.
So perhaps the kind of mental spin a player must have is worth considering before criticizing his suitability for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Of course, a player will always be judged on his performances, and Mendy’s 2020 screenings have been mixed to say the least. But also the rest of the team.
You will know you were under pressure before City COO Omar Berrada spoke to MEN Sport about the team’s left-back options, offering Mendy a vote of confidence from the club’s hierarchy, while also reminding him that bad performances will not be tolerated for long. run.
Berrada said: “We think we have a top left back, a Benjamin Mendy specialist who has unfortunately had two serious injuries that have impacted his career with us so far but we think he is going to be a very important player.
“Hopefully he is injury free this year and shows his full potential. Aleks [Zinchenko] he has done an excellent job in the left back position. It is not his natural position, but whenever he has played there he has done very well. “
Berrada went on to name Aymeric Laporte, Nathan Ake and Joao Cancelo as the other options to replace Mendy on the left back, adding: “We think we have more than enough coverage there and anyone who plays there will step up and do it. good”.
The backing from the top will be a welcome boost for Mendy, who clearly needs a series of games, injury-free, to restore the confidence and form he displayed early in his City career. Any criticism should be with your injury history considered a major contributing factor.
But he also knows that if the performances continue below the current par, City have been clear that they will play with the best player available on the left back.
So Mendy’s challenge couldn’t be clearer, even if it presents an uncomfortable paradox.
He must improve, stay in shape and the left back is his to lose. However, to do that, you will have to build trust by staying injury free and having some faith from your coach that you will not be left after a bad game or two.
Fortunately for Mendy, she cannot control what her manager does, not even if she is seriously injured or not.
So all he can do is focus on improving his performances, staying in peak physical shape and getting back to his best level for City. If you do that, everyone at Etihad wins.
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