Riyad Mahrez & Ilkay Gundogan’s Absence Cost Pep Guardiola & Co. Against Aston Villa, Argues Pundit

Reigning European Champions Manchester City’s form has raised the eyebrows of soccer fans lately. It has been more than a month since Pep Guardiola’s side won a Premier League match. City settled for three draws and an underwhelming loss in their last four outings. Their loss against Aston Villa has prompted soccer circles to examine what they are missing. At this juncture, a soccer pundit observes that Guardiola and co. are missing the services of former players, Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan.

This season, Ilkay Gundogan took his talents to FC Barcelona. Riyad Mahrez, on the other hand, caught a flight to Saudi and joined Al Ahli. Speaking of Manchester City’s loss against Aston Villa, a renowned analyst asserted that Gundogan and Mahrez would’ve made the difference for City if they stayed.

Pep Guardiola and co. misses Ilkay Gundogan and Riyadh Mahrez’s services

In a recent episode of ‘#ExtraTime on ESPN FC, a viewer asked the panel of analysts if Pep Guardiola’s side made a mistake by letting Ilkay Gundogan and Mahrez go. Analyst Craig Burley said that City is indeed missing the game-changing shows of the two. He added that the team is also struggling due to injured Kevin de Bruyne’s absence. Later, soccer pundit Steve Nicol addressed the question. “Listen, right now if they had Gundogan and Mahrez, they wouldn’t have got destroyed the way Villa did. Because they wouldn’t have had two center backs playing in the middle of the field,” said Nicol.

Nicol added that Gundogan and Mahrez would have indeed a made a difference to the lackluster form Manchester City are in right now. Before Steve Nicol addressed the scenario, Craig Burley said that City did not let go of Gundogan. It was Gundogan who wanted out, due to his aspirations to play for Barcelona. Likewise, Mahrez had left City, while he still had two years remaining in his contract. Anyhow, save Burley’s remarks on these two, Pep Guardiola himself now cleared the air about Gundogan and Mahrez’s move.

Guardiola on the moves of Gundogan and Mahrez

While addressing the press ahead of Manchester City’s match against Lutton Town, Pep Guardiola spoke about the transfers of Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez. Guardiola asserted that he wanted both of them to stay in Manchester. He added that the two veterans left the club to try a new challenge and also had some sort of family issue. The Spanish boss concluded his remarks, thanking both Gundogan and Mahrez for their services.

READ MORE: Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva Turns Down PSG as He Prefers Spanish La Liga Over French Ligue 1: Reports

Do you think Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez would have put an end to City’s struggles? Will Pep Guardiola and co. buck the trend with a win against Lutton Town? Tell us in the comments below.

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