Mahrez aims to finish season on a high with Manchester City success

Riyad Mahrez wants to put the “worst” moment of his football career behind him to help Manchester City to a double triumph.

The Algeria captain was left shattered when his country failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, having also missed out in 2018 too.

A 2-1 home loss in a play-off second leg to Cameroon — who scored with the last kick of the match in extra time — saw the Desert Warriors eliminated on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate.

Mahrez had hoped to shine when the Middle East hosts its first finals of the biggest competition in world football during November and December.

Having also finished bottom of their Africa Cup of Nations group, despite being defending champions, it capped a painful period for the forward.

But the 31-year-old is now determined to finish the season on a high and lead City’s bid for Premier League and Champions League success.

The Abu Dhabi-owned club are a point clear of Liverpool in a tense top-flight title race with four games left — and visit Real Madrid on Wednesday in their Champions League semifinal return after a thrilling 4-3 first-leg success.

Mahrez, who started when City lost 1-0 to Chelsea in last season’s European final, told Arab News: “You always have pressure, but you have to play.

“You have to play your best because you have a lot of people behind you, the fans, your country.

“I’m obviously very disappointed to not go to the World Cup with my country, which was the worst I have felt in my career.

“It was so bad — the scenario was very painful. But at the end I have to try to forget and go forward — and try to help my club to achieve things.

“Obviously the Champions League is a very big competition. We try to do our best and arrive in the semifinal,