RISE AND FALL OF STERLING
THERE was a goal that came to define Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City during the earlier years of his reign. Its excellence derived from its simplicity. City would recycle possession and stretch the game, before working a ball wide and towards the byline.
One winger would latch on to a pass and, often without looking, sidefoot across the six-yard box. The other winger waited to tap in. The opposition knew what to expect but had no way of stopping it. City scored this goal over and over again. More often than not, Raheem Sterling was the man finishing the chances off.
But City have needed to find different ways to attack. When defences sit deeper and deeper — as was the case against Burnley — it leads to an increased number of high crosses. That will never be this team’s forte.
Sterling scored a fair chunk of the ‘Guardiola goals’ from the right-hand side before eventually switching flanks and, in 2019, becoming one of the most feared marksmen in Europe.
As his manager said on Friday in response to Sterling’s declaration in an interview that he may consider leaving the Etihad Stadium if more starts are not forthcoming, people and circumstances change.
Sterling, the most-selected player of Guardiola’s 14-year coaching career, is now fighting for his future at the Premier League champions because ultimately, he wants to remain at the club and continue winning trophies with them. Sterling did not play poorly on Saturday and City are a better team with his inclusion.
On at least three occasions against Burnley, balls either did not quite fall for him inside the box or team-mates opted not to square the ball to him.
He will hope another start comes at Club Bruges tomorrow for a Champions League clash that Ederson and Gabriel Jesus have made themselves available for. The Brazilians missed Saturday having flown straight to Belgium following the international break.
Bereft of confidence — he might argue that is owing to a lack of faith from his manager — Sterling is not performing with the same conviction as two years ago. He is too good for that not to return but nobody is quite sure when.
Sterling will be mindful of not jeopardising his England place. He will play anywhere and there is a school of thought that Guardiola could move him to the right.
The pair’s relationship has apparently not deteriorated with the week’s events and mutual respect exists — more so than towards the end of last season, when Guardiola dropping Sterling for the biggest matches coincided with the player resisting talks over a new contract. These are big weeks approaching for Sterling and will offer a decent indication of which way his career at City is headed. History suggests that he will come roaring back.
MANCHESTER CITY (4-3-3): Steffen 7; Cancelo 6, Stones 7, Laporte 6.5 (Dias 72min, 6), Ake 6; De Bruyne 7.5 (Fernandinho 84), Rodri 7, SILVA 8 (Palmer 90); Mahrez 5, Sterling 6, Foden 6. Scorers: Silva 12, De Bruyne 70. Booked: Laporte. Manager: Pep Guardiola 7.
BURNLEY (4-4-2): Pope 7; Lowton 6, Collins 7, Tarkowski 6.5, Pieters 5.5; Brownhill 6, Westwood 6, Cork 6 (Gudmundsson 72), McNeil 6.5; Cornet 6.5 (Barnes 56, 6), Wood 6 (Rodriguez 82). Manager: Sean Dyche 6. Referee: Martin Atkinson 6. Attendance: 52,711.