Pep knows value of revival in Sterling
RAHEEM STERLING went “back to basics” to rediscover his goalscoring touch and best form for Manchester City.
Sterling has scored in his last three games for City, having found the net in just two of his previous 30 appearances, stretching back to February.
City boss Pep Guardiola praised the way Sterling has come through his dry spell and said he told the England winger not to be too hard on himself.
“I’m so glad for him, he’s helped us for sure,” said Guardiola.
“He will fight to be better. It’s important for strikers and wingers to score and give assists.
‘Scoring goals can give confidence for these type of guys, but he has to do better, be more aggressive, go one against one, arrive in the final third.This is the first step for him to come back.
“When they do [have a blip] they go back to the basics, they have to know it’s normal.
“In this crazy calendar, with more games, there’s no time to rest. English players go into the final of the
Euros, then two or three weeks later they come back, then it’s the Community Shield, then Tottenham.
“You can’t imagine how difficult it is, especially for the talented players. Every three days they have to be creative.When one player doesn’t play good I don’t doubt them.
“I’m not going to tell Raheem he doesn’t have the quality he had in the last six years. He’s the same guy, come back to basics and, step-by-step, he’ll come back.”
Sterling’s past goalscoring heroics saw him lauded as one of the best attackers in world football.
The 26-year-old plundered 20-plus goals in three successive seasons, culminating in a career-best haul of 31 in the 2019-20 campaign.
Kevin De Bruyne is still isolating after a positive coronavirus test, while Jack Grealish and Phil Foden are back training, but unlikely to be risked againstWest Ham.