Riyad Mahrez was not surprised by Manchester City's slump last season. The former Manchester City winger believes the team's loss of key players affected their stability and output.
What happened?
Manchester City had to be content with third place in the Premier League and suffered their earliest Champions League exit for 13 years. An injury crisis robbed them of Rodri for nine months and at least two centre-backs for most of that time.
Why it matters for Riyad Mahrez
Riyad Mahrez thinks it was just the end of a cycle; they lost a lot of players. He told CARRE that the team was more high-stat players, and logically, it increased the level of the team. Mahrez scored 15 goals with 13 assists in his last year.
What comes next?
The onus will fall mostly on players who are already at the club to start getting the goals and assists to adequately complement Erling Haaland. However, there may also be help from two summer signings, Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders.
Riyad Mahrez also saw a lack of output from the forwards that increased the scrutiny on their defence. Pep Guardiola lamented his side's lack of product in the final third during the season.
The main focus lay with Savinho and Jeremy Doku, who both struggled to consistently provide goals and assists from the wings. If City are to improve this season, those two individuals have to be involved with more goals.
Aged 21 and 23 respectively, there is time for both to grow into the team and Guardiola liked the improvement he saw in the Club World Cup this summer. Doku was one of City's best players at the tournament, while Savinho also caught the eye.
Foden also looked brighter as he aims to pick his form back up. The summer signings may help to address the issue, but it remains to be seen if they can make a significant impact.
Riyad Mahrez's comments highlight the challenges facing Manchester City as they look to regain their title. With the new season underway, City will be hoping to put last season's disappointments behind them and make a strong push for the top spot.
The team's performance will be closely watched, and fans will be eager to see if they can bounce back from last season's slump. Riyad Mahrez's insights provide a fascinating glimpse into the challenges facing the team and the potential solutions for the new season.