Benjamin Mendy says Pep Guardiola’s strongest demand at Manchester City is that his players always accept the ball and make defenders ‘commit’.
The left-back has been sidelined through injury for much of his 18 months at the Etihad but believes he is ‘not far off’ becoming the best in the world in his position.
And Mendy, who was part of France’s World Cup-winning squad in the summer, says Guardiola is clear in his message to his record-breaking side.
“‘Commit’,” Mendy told Canal Football Club. “He says ‘commit, commit, commit and accept the ball.’ Commit, meaning go towards the player. When you’re in front of a defender, then pass it.”
That advice has served Mendy well since his arrival in the summer of 2017, with the former Monaco man widely regarded as one of the Premier League’s best left-backs despite making just 16 league appearances for the Blues.
Mendy’s power on City’s left flank forms a considerable part of Guardiola’s armoury when the Frenchman is fit, and he admits he is on his way to becoming one of the best in the business.
“Since my time at Marseille I have progressed enormously,” he said. “And my spell at Monaco under [Leonardo] Jardim helped me too. I think I can say I’m not too far away.
“[The perfect defender is] defensive, attacking, technical, physically strong, and a good set of lungs to get up and down – that’s so important for a left-back today.”
He credits that development, in part, to Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa, who managed him at Marseille.
“It’s knowing how to play in several positions,” Mendy said of Bielsa’s influence. “I played as the last line of defence, as a left winger. I didn’t understand how to play in those positions but I do now and that’s really helped me.”