The
Citizens have been banned from European competition for the next two seasons,
leading to doubts about many of their star players
It
was only a matter of time before Manchester City stars were linked
with moves to other clubs owing to their European ban by Uefa which, if upheld,
means they will miss the next two years of Champions
League and Europa League competition.
The the latest name linked to the exit door is Riyad Mahrez, whose transfer away
was mooted last week. Champions League fans from around the globe can acquire Champions
League Final Tickets online to make the most of its dazzling
exhibitions.
Paris
Saint-Germain is the club said to be chasing the former Leicester
City wideman, who would depart the blue half of Manchester after two
trophy-laden campaigns under Pep Guardiola. The latest development comes weeks
after Europe’s football governing body sanctioned the Citizens.
While
the four-time Premier League champions seem outwardly confident their appeal at
the Court of Arbitration for Sport will prompt either a reduction or the ban
getting lifted altogether, the uncertainty as regards the club’s position will
surely have crossed the players’ minds.
For
Mahrez, he joined Pep’s army in the summer of 2018 and was part of the side
that claimed all three domestic titles in the land Premier League, the FA
Cup and League Cup in what was an unprecedented domestic treble win.
The Algerian:
While
the Algerian didn’t play as much of a leading role as he’d have liked, this
year has been different with the Africa Cup of Nations champion
kicking on from his success in Egypt last year to play a more
important part this season.
Their
league campaign may have failed to take off, and could end disappointingly
with Liverpool so far ahead in the table, but further success in
the Carabao Cup and progress in the sport’s oldest cup competition
means more titles could be on the cards when the season resumes.
In
addition, and perhaps importantly, claiming the Holy Grail this year will be
the club’s imaginary little finger to the competition’s governing body, having
endured a tricky relationship over the years.
Ironically,
if they do claim their maiden Champions League crown, players like Mahrez might
feel it best to move on, ban or otherwise, having claimed every title possible
for the Citizens. Their hopes were boosted with a dominant 2-1 win
over Real Madrid in the first-leg of their Round of 16 tie, a
game the African champion thrived in despite not scoring or assisting.
On
the other hand, though, if Man City fail to win this season’s European title
and their appeal at the CAS fails, will stars like Mahrez stay at the club
without continental football for two years?
Besides
the obvious financial ramifications the lack of UCL football will have on the
Algerian’s bumper contract, it may not be reasonable to wait it out in
Manchester given his age. The ex-Leicester man clocked 29 in February and could
be 31 in two years when City are back in Europe.
Alternative:
The
alternative, of course, is to leave the Citizens when the transfer window
re-opens, get one last rewarding contract, and another shot in the continent’s
premier club competition. Champions
League Tickets can be grabbed from our worldwide ticketing market
place.
This
is the opening PSG are reportedly offering, but whether their interest
materialises into something concrete will be determined by the Manchester
outfit’s appeal.
Still,
it would be worthwhile to consider how Mahrez fits into the current setup
at the Ligue 1 side owing to the presence of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe
in Thomas Tuchel’s team.
The
German tactician has made use of a few formations this season, from the 4-3-3
to the 3-4-3, before finally finding a bit of balance with the 4-2-2-2 in the
last few months, which lets him shoehorn all his attacking talents into the
side, while having a fair bit of balance in midfield.
If
the North African is signed, game time would be hugely dependent on how
Tuchel wants his side to play long-term: is the current 4-2-2-2 formation a
means to an end or a tactic that’ll be largely maintained next season?
In
the aforementioned tactic, Mbappe doesn’t block Mahrez’s path into the XI as he
plays up top alongside an out-and-out striker.
In a
4-3-3 or 3-4-3, however, the exceptional Frenchman mainly starts wide right,
thus limiting the Afcon winner’s time on the pitch.
PSG:
Will
PSG be willing to spend a considerable amount of funds on a rotational option,
while handing him eye-watering wages to boot?
The
recent coronavirus outbreak which has brought football to a standstill has
understandably taken the limelight off Uefa vs Man City at CAS, but things will
surely become clearer when the dust settles.
When
that happens, expect guys like Mahrez to look out for their best interests, and
whether that involves jumping ship two sides like PSG despite the hierarchy’s
pleas remain to be seen.
Champions
League fans can get Champions
League Tickets through our believed web-based ticketing commercial
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