After Riyad Mahrez missed from the penalty spot during Manchester City's goalless draw with Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night, Pep Guardiola admitted that the attacker will take a break from spot-kick duties.
Having now missed three of his last four penalty attempts, it's only right that the manager steps in and takes the responsibility away from the once-reliable Mahrez. In-fact, given his lackluster performances this season, it might be time for Mahrez to have another break from the starting XI.
It's always hard to critique a world class player when they endure a rough patch of form - as the saying goes, form is temporary but class is permanent. But with Mahrez you get the sense that Guardiola's desperate attempt to play him into form is just not working and is now in-fact limiting the opportunities of those more worthy of minutes.
READ MORE: Man City have two obvious Erling Haaland penalty deputies after Riyad Mahrez miss
Mahrez was City's top goal-scorer in all competitions last season, but beyond his goals he played a key role in City's Premier League triumph. He was Guardiola's go-to option on the right wing for much of the season before Gabriel Jesus' late season revival, his decision-making, first-touch and delivery making him a nightmare for defenders to deal with.
So far this campaign he has looked predictable and lacking in cutting-edge, something that might be partly explained by Guardiola admitting a few weeks ago that his winger needs to improve his physical condition.
Mahrez has been available for all 11 of City's league fixtures so far but has started just four, thanks to his own poor form and the exploits of Phil Foden on the right flank. Last season Foden stayed pretty much exclusively on the left when deployed on the wing, but this term the improved form of Jack Grealish has shifted him across.
Against Wolves and Manchester United City's front-three of Grealish-Haaland-Foden looked unstoppable, with City's £100m signing finally looking to be realising his true potential. Just as soon as that happened though Grealish found himself starting on the bench against Southampton and Liverpool.
Mahrez and Grealish may be close friends off the pitch, but on it they seldom get the chance to work together. Guardiola has named both in his starting line-up on just three occasions this season, with Saturday's defeat of Brighton the first time in the league.
It seems clear that Guardiola doesn't like to pair them together for reasons of tactics or balance, meaning it comes down to a choice between the two. Guardiola's attempt to play Mahrez into form is understandable, but not if it comes at the expense of Grealish's rhythm, or minutes for youngsters like Julian Alvarez and Cole Palmer.
There can be good tactical reasons for starting Mahrez over Grealish et al, but the Algerian just isn't cutting it at the moment. The winger should start on the bench against his former club Leicester on Saturday - chances will come with injuries and fixture congestion, but that time isn't now.
READ NEXT:
