‘Rafael Nadal is a true champion, he pushes and wins even when he is injured’: Riyad Mahrez

‘Rafael Nadal is a true champion, he pushes and wins even when he is injured’: Riyad Mahrez

Football star Mahrez praised Nadal's resilient qualities and said he's an example for every athlete

Manchester City forward Riyad Mahrez heaped praise on 13-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal by using the Spaniard as an example of how crucial it is to keep working hard and pushing yourself in the world of sports while speaking on Youtube channel OuiHustle.

“There is constant questioning in football”: Mahrez

Kylian Mbappe has his penalty saved by Swiss Goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

While speaking on the channel, Riyad explained that football, just like tennis is a sport where you consistently need to prove yourself. He took the example of Kylian Mbappe, who recently missed the crucial spot kick in the penalty shoot out against Switzerland, which let to the Swiss side heading to the Quarterfinals in place of France, who lost 4-5 in the penalty shootout after having blown away a 3-1 lead in the 80th minute, with the match finishing 3-3 after normal time.

Kylian came under fire from all corners of the footballing world as it was his penalty miss that cost France a deep run into the Euros where many people would have expected France to become champions, having won the 2018 World Cup.

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“There is constant questioning in football. We saw it with Mbappe. He won the World Cup three years ago. Then (Euros 2020) he missed the penalty. Everyone has fallen on him. Everything you did yesterday they don’t care, it is in the past. You have to look ahead.”

“Important to maintain a hunger to win irrespective of past triumphs”: Mahrez

Nadal said he once heard a voice in his head saying ‘It’s okay, you’ve already won 11″

The Algerian took the example of how Rafa had to fight within himself for one of his wins. “When you win, next year you have to come back and try to win again. It’s the right mindset,” added Mahrez. “And those who have it are very successful. It’s like Nadal. Once, he had won Roland Garros 11 times and he was losing in the final of another tournament. He says he heard a voice in his head telling him ‘it’s good Rafa, you’ve already won 11’.”

“Well he, no, he continues, he will try, even if he is injured, he pushes and he wins. And that’s the real champion. When you win, you have to win again otherwise people will say that we are finished. You have to surpass yourself all the time.”

https://youtu.be/NQElsZZApj4

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