Riyad Mahrez First Touch

Riyad Mahrez has the best touch on the Manchester City team according to Bernardo Silva. It is really a tough call, given the quality of players on the Manchester City team. But I think Silva has chosen correctly.

It does seem like the right choice by Silva, given how Mahrez controls the soccer ball and sets himself up to score. The example used is Mahrez’s goal versus Liverpool. The ball is coming in the air and Mahrez controls the ball perfectly with his first touch so he can shoot right away. In one motion Mahrez takes the ball out of the air and cuts inside to strike the ball with his left foot.

Although I think people watching might not realize how fast this is all happening. Any glitch in Mahrez’s first touch will prevent him from being able to strike the ball before Liverpool’s Andy Robertson can close him down.

Manchester City’s brilliant playmaker Silva rates his team-mates’ first touches as he decides who tops a list of eight.

Altogether the list includes: Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Julian Alvarez, Ederson, Riyad Mahrez, Jack Grealish and Ilkay Gundogan. For a keeper, Ederson’s touch is impressive and since he comes pretty far out of the goal box. And I love how the crowd cheers the quality of his first touch.

Overall, do you agree with Silva that Mahrez has the best first touch in the Manchester City team?

0:00 Intro
0:20 Who has the best first touch in the squad?
1:12 Ilkay Gundogan
2:04 Ederson
2:44 Bernardo Silva
3:43 Riyad Mahrez
4:58 Phil Foden
5:54 Kevin De Bruyne
6:57 Jack Grealish
7:38 Julian Alvarez
8:19 Outro

One thing missing is who Pep Guardiola thinks has the best first touch on the team.

Moreover, what is amazing is Mahrez didn’t even play in the Champions League final. That just shows you the quality of players on the City team.

Here’s Grealish and Mahrez are warming up before that final. Talk about first touch. This really is the epitome of an incredible first touch. To take the ball out of the air and juggle it. Grealish does it with the inside of his foot no less. Even banging the ball back up into the air higher than he has to.

Generally, I think that is what young players need to learn as far as first touch goes. To manipulate the soccer ball with purpose. To juggle it at various heights and distances away from a teammate. And while moving.

Also, soccer coaches should get kids to see how much they have to expand their thinking, in terms of how they can juggle the soccer ball!

Watch Mahrez and Grealish long distance juggling routine in the video below.