Mangala: I was not lost; I was not dead

Eliaquim Mangala had no interest in leaving Manchester City this summer despite his error-strewn first season.

The Frenchman joined City for a fee somewhere between £32m and £42m in 2014 but struggled as 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.”