Pep Guardiola says Riyad Mahrez has been grumpy when he doesn't play, but showed his quality to score Manchester City's first hat-trick at Wembley and fire the Blues into the FA Cup semi-final.
Mahrez scored a first-half penalty before two well-taken finishes in five second-half minutes to kill the game against Sheffield United and book City's final place against either Manchester United or Brighton.
While Mahrez has become a key fixture in City's 16-game unbeaten run, he has spent plenty of time out of the starting XI this season and attracted criticism from Guardiola over his condition earlier in the campaign. Now, the manager says Mahrez is reaping the rewards for putting his head down and showing his quality - even if he hasn't seen eye to eye with the boss.
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"Always he's grumpy with me when he doesn't play. He makes me notice how grumpy he feels," Guardiola revealed.
"Today [he's] not. He's an exceptional player, big stages player, the mentality to score a goal. Composure for the penalty was important to finish the first half 1-0. After the second and third goal brilliant. Really good to be in the final, so satisfied from Riyad, he loves to play football, he has given many things in these years and hopefully more in the future."
Expanding on Mahrez's hat-trick, Guardiola explained how the Algerian's attitude to playing football has led to those 'grumpy' moments, alluding to a losing battle when it comes to convincing him of his importance to City.
"Riyad plays good in every game, also in decisive games. He loves to play football," the manager explained.
"He's a big fan, an amateur spirit. Not a guy who has a contract, has to do his job, thinks how many hours I have to train, do my job and go home. Completely the opposite. He loves to be in contact with the ball. That's why when he's upset [not] to play is because he wants to play.
"Sometimes Bernardo gives something in the sides he cannot give us with the skills, not because he cannot do it. Or Phil, sometimes you need special things. We know each other for many years. I know I lost the battle to make him understand how important he is to the group. Important is when he plays, play in that level."
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