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Mendy ready for more silverware with City, France
MIAMI, July 29, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Benjamin Mendy is ready to make up for
lost time at Manchester City and add to his ever-growing list of silverware.
A knee injury forced the 24-year-old for out seven months last season but
having made just 11 appearances all season he ended the summer with World Cup
and Premier League winners medals.
Mendy played only 40 minutes for Les Bleus in the group stage against
Denmark and ticked off just enough matches for City to have something hanging
round his neck during the celebrations.
His gold World Cup medal hasn’t left his sight since picking it up in
Moscow.
“I have the medal in my pocket,” Mendy told reporters in Miami ahead of
City’s pre-season friendly here this week.
“Before the World Cup I said to the dressing room, ‘if I win I’ll come
back with the medal’.
“This (the medal) is my skin now. For four years it’s my skin for a life.
In four years we have a new World Cup but now we are the kings.
“Before we were going, everybody was talking about their country. I said
that you’ll see the French win but some other guys said no.
“After we played we spoke but every time it’s with respect. When we won
against Argentina I spoke with Kun (Aguero) straight after the game with a
text.
“When England won their quarter-final I spoke with Raz (Raheem Sterling)
and Kyle (Walker). Everything is like this. So when I come back I don’t go
“waaaaaaah!” I say hi and we speak.”
Mendy’s involvement on the pitch with Didier Deschamps’ team was brief but
his influence in the dressing room ensured he remained an important part of
the jigsaw for France.
“For the World Cup you don’t care. It’s better if you’re playing but it
was an amazing moment with the team and the staff,” he said.
– ‘A big family’ –
“We are a big family and we knew what we wanted to do – to win the World
Cup and it’s what we did. It was amazing to go back to Paris. If you play or
you don’t play, I enjoyed it.
“You need to have a very big team and a big family with the team-mates and
staff too.”
Mendy joined up with Pep Guardiola’s side in Floriday ahead of their clash
with Bayern Munich in the International Champions Cup and is hopeful of being
fit and raring to go for the season-opener at Arsenal.
“Really, I didn’t have any low moments, ” he said. When I go to the
hospital some people [are worse than] me. It’s just one knee though.
“All the time I was asking about when I can do the next thing. I was
always asking. The time went so quick. I remember when I went to the hospital
in Barcelona, I asked before my surgery whether I could go to the World Cup.
“The surgeon said: ‘I’m not a magician, but normally yes.’ That was my
goal.
“I want to play. When you win one time you want to win a second time. You
don’t want to stop. I am so, so, so excited for keeping going like this with
the team.”
Seeing old friend Paul Pogba, his cross-city rival in Manchester, excel
during France’s campaign made it even more special.
“Playing with him in the national team is a dream,” said Mendy.
“Sometimes we spoke about this when we were younger, about 13, and now we
are in the France team.
“It’s amazing. Before every game he was the one speaking big words to the
team.”
BSS/AFP/MSY/0954 hrs