PEP GUARDIOLA defended Benjamin Mendy over his coronavirus breach and insisted ‘many individuals have perhaps achieved the identical’.
The Manchester Metropolis left-back, 26, hosted a New 12 months’s Eve celebration at his home regardless of the Covid outbreak throughout the membership camp.
Benjamin Mendy obtained the complete backing of his supervisor Pep Guardiola regardless of breaching Covid guidelines for a New 12 months’s Eve celebrationCredit score: Instagram
Mendy’s bash — three days after his aspect’s clash with Everton was postponed due to the bug — was attended by not less than three individuals outdoors his family.
The Frenchman stated he, his girlfriend, his niece and nephew — who all stay with him — attended.
However he admitted his girlfriend’s pal and her partner were also there, together with a chef.
In the course of the celebration, Mendy tweeted a message at 11.23pm urging individuals to take warning. It learn: “Pleased New 12 months. Care for you and yours.”
City stated they have been ‘upset to be taught of the transgression and can be conducting an inner investigation’ – however regardless of the breach, Guardiola named him on the bench for the win at Chelsea.
Requested about his defender’s antics, the Spaniard jumped to his aspect – and informed his critics to look within the mirror earlier than blasting Mendy.
Guardiola stated: “He had good intentions with the center that he has, however he has to know some issues. He invited two or three individuals on New 12 months’s Eve, all of them examined destructive, however they have been at his home.
“I wish to understand how many individuals had 5 – 6 individuals at dwelling on New 12 months’s Eve, I’m fairly certain many.
“Usually in society we decide the opposite one, it might be higher if we decide ourselves.
“I’m fairly certain Benjamin will enhance on that and subsequent time he can be extra cautious.”
Guardiola added: “He broke the foundations, I’m not justifying it, he can not do it.
“However don’t give classes to the opposite ones, don’t put examples from the gamers for society. All of us should do what we now have to do.
“After all it was not right what he has achieved, however don’t decide him an excessive amount of, if we have a look at what we now have achieved New 12 months’s Eve, many, many individuals have perhaps achieved the identical.
He is a particular man for all of us and he has an unbelievable coronary heart.
Pep Guardiola on Benjamin Mendy
“It’s straightforward to evaluate others. If everybody put the demanding intentions on ourselves everybody could be higher.
“We’ve to observe the foundations [like everybody], I’ve stated this to the gamers many occasions, the virus is right here, however we all know that the federal government should say what we now have to do.”
Mendy remained an unused sub as he watched on at Stamford Bridge.
Goals from Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne in a rampant first half did the damage earlier than Callum Hudson-Odoi scored an injury-time comfort.
Talking of Mendy being a part of the matchday squad, Guardiola stated: “He’s a part of the group, he’s one of many good guys, he is beloved in our group, he was one of the crucial energetic gamers within the stands.
“He is a particular man for all of us and he has an unbelievable coronary heart.”
Guardiola launched a powerful defence of his left-back after the win over ChelseaCredit score: AFP
Mendy was nonetheless included in Metropolis’s matchday squad however was an unused sub at Stamford BridgeCredit score: Information Group Newspapers Ltd
