Benjamin Mendy claims that a quote has been wrongly attributed to him… by his own employers.
Manchester City have coped well in Mendy’s absence, with both Fabian Delph and Danilo deputising admirably since the Frenchman ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in September.
The left-back underwent successful surgery on his knee and is now looking towards a comeback.
City claimed that Mendy is targeting a return date next month, with an interview appearing on the club’s official website on Friday in which the 23-year-old apparently said: “the Manchester derby is a realistic aim.”
#mancity pic.twitter.com/QDrkpO8qQr
— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 2, 2018
City will take on arch-rivals Manchester United on April 7 and that could be the very date when Pep Guardiola’s side wrap up the Premier League.
If neither side drop points between now and then, a victory for City at the Etihad will see them crowned champions and while Mendy would presumably love to be on the pitch ahead of the coronation, he claims he never said that he was aiming to be back for the derby.
hummm not sure where or when I said that but … calm down guys, no rush or pressure it will take as long as I need until I’m 100% https://t.co/CRysUTXFhE
— Benjamin Mendy (@benmendy23) March 2, 2018
Mendy responded to City’s tweet which quoted his goal of an early comeback by insisting he’d never said such a thing.
“Not sure where or when I said that but calm down guys,” Mendy wrote.
“No rush or pressure. It will take as long as I need until I’m 100 per cent.”