Claude Puel admits he does not know if Riyad Mahrez will stay at Leicester City
Friday 11 May 2018 15:17, UK
Leicester City manager Claude Puel admits he does not know if Riyad Mahrez will remain at the club beyond this summer.
Mahrez recently refused to commit his future to the Foxes but did say he had withdrawn the transfer request he made in January.
The Algeria winger was the subject of four failed bids from Manchester City in the mid-season transfer window and after a move to the Etihad did not materialise he missed training for over a week, with Mahrez forced to deny going AWOL.
The 28-year-old, under contract at the King Power until June 2020, said he was "relaxed" about his situation, but his manager says he has does not know if Mahrez will be in his squad for the start of the new season in August.
Speaking ahead of Sunday's final Premier League game away to Tottenham, Puel said: "Riyad is in contract with Leicester, but we will see in the summer with different players. We will see. We don't know. The only thing we know is that Riyad has a contract with Leicester."
The Foxes bounced back from a disappointing 2-0 defeat to West Ham at home by beating Arsenal 3-1 at the King Power on Wednesday.
Puel commended his players for giving the home fans a fitting send-off in the final home game of the season but dismissed the notion he needed the result to hold on to his job.
He continued: "It was a good performance. Congratulations to my players because they went on to the pitch with a good mentality, aggressiveness and desire. It was important to finish with a strong game at home.
"[Speculation over my future] is not my concern. I'm happy with the squad to show quality and desire. There are difficulties to managing this team, like the transfer saga, injuries, red cards. But we are trying to put in place some foundation.
"I try to rise above [the criticism]. I said a lot of times, I didn't come here just to save the club. I want to develop the play, the squad, young players, the academy, the structure of the club. I will see if this is possible. I have a good feeling."
"Sometimes we cannot succeed. But the desire has to be there. After we can develop the play. If desire is not there, it is not possible to see all the good play we can do."
