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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola apologized for Riyad Mahrez's lack of action.
Mahrez, City's 60 million pound record, has not started a Premier League game since winning in Southampton on Dec. 30.
Guardiola insists that the Algerian did little harm, but the shape of the others – including Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane and Bernardo Silva – simply prevented him from engaging on the side.
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Guardiola said: "I am the reason (he did not play) He is absolutely not guilty.
"I'm sad because he's training incredibly – he's an incredibly talented player, but we currently have five forwards." In the last few games, Leroy has not played.
1/21 Ranking of the 20 finals of the FA Cup
Getty Images
2/21 1997: Chelsea 2-0 Middlesbrough
A game that will remain in the history books for the love at first sight of Roberto Di Matteo in one minute. Ruud Gullit became the first black manager to win a big English trophy.
Getty Images
3/21 1993: Arsenal 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday
The most recent FA Cup in Sheffield on Wednesday was lost after extra time and recovery. Ian Wright and Chris Waddle extended the game before Andy Linighan's header at the last moment.
Getty Images
4/21 2002: Arsenal 2-0 Chelsea
A close match was separated by two amazing strikes in the top corner. Ray Parlor and Freddie Ljungberg shine individually.
Getty Images
5/21 1976: Manchester United 0-1 Southampton
Finishing sixth in the second division, Southampton was a huge outsider before the match against the third in the high flight Man United. Stolen volley from left foot Bobby Stokes was the winner in 83 minutes.
Getty Images
6/21 2017: Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
A goal early in the game by Alexis Sanchez among offside claims was canceled by Diego Costa. Just three minutes later, the Gunners had their 13th record title achieved by another goal from Aaron Ramsey Wembley.
Getty Images
7/21 1980: West Ham United 1-0 Arsenal
West Ham hero Trevor Brooking scored the lone goal after 13 minutes in the last England Cup final won by a team outside the first flight.
Getty Images
8/21 1966: Everton 3-2 Sheffield Wednesday
Everton reached the final without conceding a goal, but Wednesday was two points with half an hour to play. The Toffees became the second team to score two goals and win the final.
Getty Images
9/21 2014: Arsenal 3-2 Hull City (AET)
Hull City scored two goals in eight minutes against Arsenal, but could not keep up. The goals of Santi Cazorla and Laurent Koscielny extended the match before Aaron Ramsey stabbed his home to break Hull's heart.
Getty Images
10/21 2016: Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United (AET)
Alan Pardew danced on the sideline when Jason Puncheon put Palace down, but Juan Mata put the game out of play to allow Jesse Lingard to free himself in the top corner, guaranteeing the 12th United Cup.
Getty Images
11/21 1973: Leeds United 0-1 Sunderland
Leeds was a dominant force in English football when Sunderland's second division division became the first team to lift the trophy off the first flight from West Brom in 1931.
Getty Images
12/21 1990: Crystal Palace 3-3 Manchester United (AET)
In the first final of all Wembley places, Ian Wright and Mark Hughes provided straps to their respective clubs in an exciting match that led to a recovery – won 1-0 by United.
Getty Images
13/21 2013: Manchester City 0-1 Wigan Athletic
Ben Watson's 91st-minute lead over the previous year's Premier League champions made Wigan the first FA Cup club to be relegated in the same season.
Getty Images
14/21 1979: Arsenal 3-2 Manchester United
The "Five-Minute Finale" embodies the feeling that frantic finishes are one of the pillars of the FA Cup. Arsenal threw a two-goal lead four minutes from the end and Alan Sunderland grabbed the winner.
Getty Images
15/21 1989: Liverpool 3-2 Everton (AET)
Five weeks after the Hillsborough disaster, Liverpool and Everton faced each other in the FA Cup final. The Toffees' equalizer in the 90th minute allowed the team to accomplish an extra 1-1 time before a 1-2 substitute Ian Rush won the cup for Liverpool.
Getty Images
16/21 1988: Liverpool 0-1 Wimbledon
The one and only FA Cup triumph at Wimbledon came courtesy of Lawrie Sanchez. The club had been in the football league for only 11 years after defeating the defending English champions.
Getty Images
17/21 2001: Arsenal 1-2 Liverpool
The first final of the England Cup at the Millennium Stadium was exciting. Michael Owen scored two goals in five minutes to cancel Freddie Ljungberg's opener and win the match to the death.
Getty Images
18/21 1981: Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 Manchester City
A last rock with incredible strikes was won by a superb FA Cup goal. Ricky Villa's race in the surface and finish will never be forgotten by Spurs fans.
Getty Images
19/21 City of Coventry 3-2 Tottenham Hotspur (AET)
John Motson described this game as "the best cup final" in his comments. On two occasions, Coventry leveled and dragged the game in stoppage time. "Gary Mabbutt's Knee" is now a Coventry fanzine, after the Spurs goal gave Sky Blues the spectacular victory.
Getty Images
20/21 1953: Blackpool 4-3 Bolton Wanderers
Returning from 3-1 to win in stoppage time is enough motivation for this final to be considered excellent. The match was dubbed "The Matthews Finale" for Stanley Matthews' performance, despite teammate Stan Mortensen scoring a hat trick.
Getty Images
21/21 2006: Liverpool 3-3 West Ham (3-1 on pens)
A few seconds after winning a first FA Cup trophy since 1980, West Ham could not have imagined that they would find themselves desperate on the Millennium Stadium grounds. Steven Gerrard hit a 30-yard halfback volley to extend the game to allow the Reds to win on penalties.
Getty Images
1/21 Ranking of the 20 finals of the FA Cup
Getty Images
2/21 1997: Chelsea 2-0 Middlesbrough
A game that will remain in the history books for the love at first sight of Roberto Di Matteo in one minute. Ruud Gullit became the first black manager to win a big English trophy.
Getty Images
3/21 1993: Arsenal 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday
The most recent FA Cup in Sheffield on Wednesday was lost after extra time and recovery. Ian Wright and Chris Waddle extended the game before Andy Linighan's header at the last moment.
Getty Images
4/21 2002: Arsenal 2-0 Chelsea
A close match was separated by two amazing strikes in the top corner. Ray Parlor and Freddie Ljungberg shine individually.
Getty Images
5/21 1976: Manchester United 0-1 Southampton
Finishing sixth in the second division, Southampton was a huge outsider before the match against the third in the high flight Man United. Stolen volley from left foot Bobby Stokes was the winner in 83 minutes.
Getty Images
6/21 2017: Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
A goal early in the game by Alexis Sanchez among offside claims was canceled by Diego Costa. Just three minutes later, the Gunners had their 13th record title achieved by another goal from Aaron Ramsey Wembley.
Getty Images
7/21 1980: West Ham United 1-0 Arsenal
West Ham hero Trevor Brooking scored the lone goal after 13 minutes in the last England Cup final won by a team outside the first flight.
Getty Images
8/21 1966: Everton 3-2 Sheffield Wednesday
Everton reached the final without conceding a goal, but Wednesday was two points with half an hour to play. The Toffees became the second team to score two goals and win the final.
Getty Images
9/21 2014: Arsenal 3-2 Hull City (AET)
Hull City scored two goals in eight minutes against Arsenal, but could not keep up. The goals of Santi Cazorla and Laurent Koscielny extended the match before Aaron Ramsey stabbed his home to break Hull's heart.
Getty Images
10/21 2016: Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United (AET)
Alan Pardew danced on the sideline when Jason Puncheon put Palace down, but Juan Mata put the game out of play to allow Jesse Lingard to free himself in the top corner, guaranteeing the 12th United Cup.
Getty Images
11/21 1973: Leeds United 0-1 Sunderland
Leeds was a dominant force in English football when Sunderland's second division division became the first team to lift the trophy off the first flight from West Brom in 1931.
Getty Images
12/21 1990: Crystal Palace 3-3 Manchester United (AET)
In the first final of all Wembley places, Ian Wright and Mark Hughes provided straps to their respective clubs in an exciting match that led to a recovery – won 1-0 by United.
Getty Images
13/21 2013: Manchester City 0-1 Wigan Athletic
Ben Watson's 91st-minute lead over the previous year's Premier League champions made Wigan the first FA Cup club to be relegated in the same season.
Getty Images
14/21 1979: Arsenal 3-2 Manchester United
The "Five-Minute Finale" embodies the feeling that frantic finishes are one of the pillars of the FA Cup. Arsenal threw a two-goal lead four minutes from the end and Alan Sunderland grabbed the winner.
Getty Images
15/21 1989: Liverpool 3-2 Everton (AET)
Five weeks after the Hillsborough disaster, Liverpool and Everton faced each other in the FA Cup final. The Toffees' equalizer in the 90th minute allowed the team to accomplish an extra 1-1 time before a 1-2 substitute Ian Rush won the cup for Liverpool.
Getty Images
16/21 1988: Liverpool 0-1 Wimbledon
The one and only FA Cup triumph at Wimbledon came courtesy of Lawrie Sanchez. The club had been in the football league for only 11 years after defeating the defending English champions.
Getty Images
17/21 2001: Arsenal 1-2 Liverpool
The first final of the England Cup at the Millennium Stadium was exciting. Michael Owen scored two goals in five minutes to cancel Freddie Ljungberg's opener and win the match to the death.
Getty Images
18/21 1981: Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 Manchester City
A last rock with incredible strikes was won by a superb FA Cup goal. Ricky Villa's race in the surface and finish will never be forgotten by Spurs fans.
Getty Images
19/21 City of Coventry 3-2 Tottenham Hotspur (AET)
John Motson described this game as "the best cup final" in his comments. On two occasions, Coventry leveled and dragged the game in stoppage time. "Gary Mabbutt's Knee" is now a Coventry fanzine, after the Spurs goal gave Sky Blues the spectacular victory.
Getty Images
20/21 1953: Blackpool 4-3 Bolton Wanderers
Returning from 3-1 to win in stoppage time is enough motivation for this final to be considered excellent. The match was dubbed "The Matthews Finale" for Stanley Matthews' performance, despite teammate Stan Mortensen scoring a hat trick.
Getty Images
21/21 2006: Liverpool 3-3 West Ham (3-1 on pens)
A few seconds after winning a first FA Cup trophy since 1980, West Ham could not have imagined that they would find themselves desperate on the Millennium Stadium grounds. Steven Gerrard hit a 30-yard halfback volley to extend the game to allow the Reds to win on penalties.
Getty Images
"We have incredible players, like Bernardo and Raz (Sterling), for example, in top form, which is the only reason there is no particular reason, like being upset or something from kind.
"He's a guy who's happy with us, but unfortunately I'm not nice to him, in fact, I can not give him the minutes he deserves, so I'm sorry, that's all I can say."
Mahrez had to settle for substitute appearances in the league and the debut cup against Rotherham, Burton and Burnley in recent weeks.
Guardiola, however, was delighted with the attitude of the former Leicester striker and promised that his chances would come.
The 27-year-old could face Newport in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday. The rotation of the Champions League could resume this week.
He said: "I'm not right in the fact that, if he had played the minutes that the others had played, he would have been at the highest level like the players who play.
"It's not easy for a guy who does not play regularly to come in and play at a high level." Give him five or six straight games while playing and he'll play at Sterling or Bernardo level the players who play.
Mahrez has fallen out of favor in recent weeks (Getty Images)
"When he played four or five games in a row, he was incredible, remarkable.
"I have no doubt about its quality, keep going, do not complain too much, go ahead and fight more and more.
"His time is coming and I'm sure he'll play well."
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