Riyad Mahrez set for permanent Man City axe as new details emerge – pundit
Noel Whelan has insisted Riyad Mahrez will be permanently axed from penalty duties at Man City after his latest miss against Borussia Dortmund.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the responsibility will now be handed over to Erling Haaland or Kevin de Bruyne.
Mahrez missed from 12 yards in his second consecutive Champions League game against Dortmund on Tuesday (25 October) after he was fouled by Emre Can.
As per Transfermarkt, the Algeria international has now missed four spot-kicks for club and country in 2022 alone.
Mahrez, who is out of contract in June 2025, has notched two goals in 14 appearances for the Premier League champions this season – eight of which came from the start.
The winger was dropped from the starting eleven for Man City’s trip to struggling Leicester on Saturday (29 October).
Whelan claimed there is “no way” a player of Mahrez’s quality should be missing from 12 yards so regularly.
He told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “They’ll be looking at Haaland and De Bruyne now, won’t they?
“The penalty-taking will definitely be with those two. It should have been anyway.
“But look at the quality Mahrez possesses. There’s no way he should be missing four in less than a year.
“That’ll be decided by the manager and the players. Everyone loves someone who is brave enough to step up and take the penalty but part of that is putting the ball in the net.
“That job will be handed over now to someone who can make sure that happens.”
In other news, Gabby Agbonlahor digs at “sloppy” Kevin de Bruyne after what he spotted at Man City.