Renan Lodi has named Manchester City wideman Riyad Mahrez as the toughest opponent he has ever faced.
The Algerian winger is known to be one of the greatest wingers of his generation and especially in 1v1 situations, there just are not many dribblers better than him in the business.
Renan Lodi certainly felt the heat up against Manchester City superstar Riyad Mahrez, as he broke down why it is such a challenge to face him.
Renan Lodi says Manchester City forward Riyad Mahrez is the hardest opponent he has ever faced
While the 32-year-old is not the force of nature he once was, he still remains a headache for any left-back to deal with.
So much so that Gabby Agbonlahor urged the Sky Blues to start the former Leicester City legend in the Champions League second leg against Real Madrid to secure their place in the final.
Renan Lodi, who had the misfortune of keeping Manchester City technician Riyad Mahrez, branded as a ‘magician’ by the Times quiet has explained why it is such a challenge to subdue him.
“In my opinion, the hardest player I’ve marked was City’s Mahrez. He’s a player who is pulling things out of his hat at all times”, he told ESPN Brasil, as relayed by Sport Witness.
“You don’t know if you go quickly or if you wait for him to touch the ball more. If you move first, you get nutmegged, you get one-twoed.”
MCN View: Mahrez is one of the few entertainers out wide in the world
In this day and age, end product has especially become a currency to judge how valuable a winger is.
However, as Renan Lodi suggested, Manchester City hero Riyad Mahrez is an entertainer at heart and it is the fact that he has so many tricks up his sleeve that makes him so tough to tame.
Be it at Leicester or at City, the AFCON winner has been known to pass the eye-test with flying colours while also putting numbers up on the board.
It is the players that can combine both that are a treat to watch and with Mahrez, his productivity never comes at the cost of aesthetics.
