Mangala: First season at City didn’t go as I’d have liked

Eliaquim Mangala insists he had no interest in leaving Manchester City this summer and remains determined to prove his worth to the club.

The Frenchman joined City for a fee believed to be £32million in 2014 – but struggled to establish himself as Manchester City failed to win a trophy.

“Last season was difficult for all the team,” Mangala told L’Equipe. “People focused on me because I had just arrived and because of my price. This year I am simply trying to do more and erase what did not work.

“In my head, it was clear. I wanted to stay because I hadn’t done anything. It is not my style to leave when I have proved nothing.

“When the club bought another defender (Otamendi) there was nothing illogical. It was necessary to strengthen the squad because we had won nothing. I was not scared of being edged out. I just had to stay strong mentally and concentrate.

“I was not lost. I was not dead. It was my process. Some can do that quickly. Me, I needed a season to adapt. Now, I have started and I am convinced that I am only going to get better. I am only at the beginning.

“I did not expect to see so much intensity in every game. In other championships, there are big matches where there is this intensity and smaller ones where you can allow yourself to handle it differently. In the Premier League, if you are not ready physically, you cannot hold on.

“It did not go as I would have liked but I still played 30 matches, more than at Porto in my first season. I told myself that my results weren’t so bad and I was going to use them to move forward.”

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