Benjamin Mendy has the same challenge as John Stones at Manchester City to impress Pep Guardiola. Both defenders have started the last two games and impressed in a team that has won those matches and kept successive clean sheets, with Stones earning high praise from the manager and keeping Aymeric Laporte out of the side. However, Guardiola was more interested in his defensive work. As the player hopes that he can have an extended run in the team, that is what he will be judged on rather than how often he finds the back of the net or pops up in the box.
Pep Guardiola said “It is so important for us that he’s fit but scoring goals is the last thing I want from him, I want him to defend well, be fit and be focussed. This is what everyone wants from Benji. He played two 90 minutes and played quite well. Still we have to wait, it depends on him, similar to John. It doesn’t depend on the manager or another one. If he can maintain training regularly every day and is focused, and then can score a goal as the last thing, then that is okay – but that is what I want from him.”
