Pep Guardiola and Manchester City played the 2019 community shield without forward Riyad Mahrez due to issues link with some medicines he took in Egypt during the 2019 AFCON.

According to Man City coach Pep Guardiola, while playing for Algeria in Egypt he was administered some drugs which could have gotten him into problems relating to doping rules if he had taken part in the game against Liverpool.

“The doctors did not have exactly the medicines….. we don’t have what he took… about the medicine. That’s why, for doping control, today was a risk because the doctors didn’t have it. That’s why he wasn’t in the squad to play some minutes” the Man City coach explained.

It is unknown what medicine Mahrez, was given and what it was administered for.

The coach also added that Riyad had called him just after being crowned champion with Algeria and said, he wanted to play against Liverpool “You are more than welcome, it’s perfect you come” Guardiola replied to Mahrez.

Riyad Mahrez 28, captained the Algerian men’s national football team to their second title of the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

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