In Friday’s pre-West Ham press conference, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola told the media that, alongside Bernardo Silva being unavailable for the game, left back Benjamin Mendy will be injured for between ten and 12 weeks.
The timeframe is significantly longer than what was anticipated when it was said that he underwent surgery in Barcelona last week – this all after the 24-year-old spent the majority of their title-winning season last term also on the sidelines.
In fact, Mendy’s latest setback means he has now missed 52 games at City through injury during his 18-month spell at the Premier League champions, having only signed from French side Monaco in the summer of 2017.
This leaves the first-choice left-back spot vacant, which is surely to be juggled by England international Fabian Delph and 21-year-old Oleksandr Zinchenko, who both performed well during the international break for their respective countries.
PEP: @BernardoCSilva cannot play this weekend. The injury is not a big one but he cannot play this weekend. @benmendy23 will be out for 10-12 weeks. #WHUMCI
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 23, 2018
As such, there has unsurprisingly been quite the reaction from several Man City fans on Twitter to the recent injury setback, with many of them far from impressed with the news…
Sorry am tired of holding this but mendy is just a fraud. We can’t pay so much for a player and he is more active on social media than the field. Can’t you just stay fit for like 2-3 months…..
Change your diet, do anything to stay fit. We fans aren’t patient
— Nwafor Patrick (@NwaforPatrick) November 23, 2018
#mcfc Time to wright off Mendy total waste of money always injured or up field, time to buy in January, injures are city’s biggest threat to retaining the title,what trouble would we be in if Ederson was injured, frightening thought
— Richard Jarvis (@BrigadierBlues) November 23, 2018
Bin mendy in the summer
— ً (@haashim__mcfc) November 23, 2018
Mendy’s latest injury is really disappointing, but I don’t think it necessitates another lb in Jan.
Both Delph & Zinchenko were excellent last season. Of more concern is the impact on any Ferna rotation. Gundogan has a history of injuries and is currently needed as a cm. #MCFC— Andy Dixon (@Andy_C_Dixon) November 23, 2018
One fan felt it was Ferland Mendy’s time, Benjamin’s namesake who is a fellow left-back and Frenchman…
https://twitter.com/Erickr0511rod/status/1065961289447485440
While another feels it comes down to Engishman and midfielder-by-trade Delph to regain left-back duties…
Delph every weekend
— Irfañ (@Irfxnta) November 23, 2018
Man City fans… what do you think? Let us know!
