Manchester City are perfectly poised to win Champions League, proclaims Riyad Mahrez

The pressure of becoming Manchester City’s record signing affected Riyad Mahrez with his first season plagued by a lack of consistency. It saw Mahrez play just 44 games across his first season with the club and he contributed to just 24 goals in total. Things changed in pre-season and that saw the Algerian step up his level with more than a handful of game-changing performances this season.

It also meant that before the Premier League was suspended, Mahrez had contributed to seventeen goals for Manchester City in just 23 games. Not only that his performances in the Champions League have played a big part in Manchester City reaching as far as they have and Mahrez believes they can go all the way. In an interview, the Algerian admitted that the Cityzens have everything in place to walk away with the trophy.

“I think it is a good time to win the Champions League. We have the team, we have the manager, we have everything, so it is a good time. I don’t know if we are the best but we are good enough to win it. The Champions League is difficult, everyone wants to win it, so it is going to be a big battle,” Mahrez said reported the Guardian.

Before the league was suspended, City had already conceded the title but found their footing in the league with them losing just two out of their last nine games. It saw City move up from third place and over Leicester City into second place, putting them back in contention for an impressive finish to their season. Yet despite their run of form, Mahrez admitted that City hadn’t reached their peak but once play resumes they will need some time to get back to that same level.

“We were good then. I wouldn’t say we were at our peak but it was good. It is going to take time to come back and be the way we were before but it is the same for every team. It was a bit long without football but we adapted and now we are back training. With the pandemic going on [training at home] is something we had to respect. Step by step we are getting fitter. I am excited. It was good to see my teammates and the coaches again,” he added.