Mangala Endures Tough Outing, But Pellegrini Keeps the Faith
Eliaquim Mangala experienced a stark reversal of fortunes over the weekend, enduring a difficult afternoon in Manchester City’s 4–2 win over Hull City. Just a week after being lauded as man of the match on his Premier League debut against Chelsea, the French international found himself at the centre of two major defensive lapses that nearly cost City dearly.
The 23-year-old defender, signed for a hefty fee from FC Porto, first put through his own net before conceding a penalty—all in a first half riddled with anxiety and uncharacteristic mistakes. Yet, despite the troubled performance, City manager Manuel Pellegrini was quick to throw his support behind his new signing.
“You can’t analyse a player based on just one match,” Pellegrini said during his post-match press conference. “In his last match against Chelsea, he was magnificent and everyone said he was the best defender in the world. He will continue to play.”
The Chilean manager acknowledged that the own goal may have unsettled Mangala, but praised his ability to regroup in the second half. “The own goal made him a little nervous, I think, and he then gave away a penalty. But he came back calmer after the break and had a good second half,” Pellegrini added. “He’s still a young player, but not too young for England. He already has a lot of experience.”
Despite his missteps, Mangala is expected to retain his place for City’s upcoming Champions League clash against Roma on Tuesday — a match that could serve as an early test of character for the Frenchman as he looks to bounce back from a weekend to forget.
