Mahrez Can Come Back With A Smile – Claude Puel

Claude Puel has said he will help Riyad Mahrez come back “with a smile” after he missed out on a deadline day move to Manchester City.

“It was a difficult situation for Riyad,” Puel said. “I hope he can come back with a smile and with desire and happy to play with his teammates. There is perhaps disappointment for Riyad but I think all the players, all the squad will help him to come back.”

“All the players we bought, it was £50m, £55m, £60m. It’s a lot of money but the big difference is that we need to buy a lot,” Guardiola told a news conference after City’s 3-0 over West Bromwich Albion, which opened up a 15-point gap at the top of the Premier League.

“People say that only we have money. We are not the richest club in the world. We have passion, always have amazing workers, a club with an amazing structure like Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

“When a player doesn’t come it’s because it’s not possible. I understand completely. We make an offer and the clubs and the managers want more. Sometimes the deal is done, sometimes not. It’s not a problem, believe me.

“I admire the club for having parameters. Maybe in the future we can buy players for £100m but it will be for a special player and at the moment we cannot afford it.

“People say ‘why do you say that when you’ve already spent £100m?’ I say that, because I follow the club, we bought a lot of players, not just one, two or three. I had four or five players that were more than 30-years-old and if you want to play this way, I’m not a magician. You need good players. I am a good manager because we have good players, amazing players.”