PREMIER LEAGUE We’re being butchered
Sterling fears horror tackles will put City stars out of World Cup
RAHEEM STERLING has claimed Manchester City stars are being ‘butchered’ by wild tackles and run the risk of missing the World Cup through injury.
Boss Pep Guardiola has been outspoken about the rough treatment dished out, with Kevin De Bruyne and Brahim Diaz targeted during Wednesday’s 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion.
That came after Leroy Sane damaged ankle ligaments as a result of a brutal tackle from Cardiff City’s Joe Bennett three days before. Sterling believes losing teams are purposefully endangering them.
‘Referees need to cut these tackles out,’ said the England forward. ‘Some players are getting butchered and it’s sad to see.
‘Teams are losing and just go out to kick players. We have a World Cup soon and it would be sad to see someone miss the tournament due to a silly tackle and someone get away with it.’
A City representative — likely to be director of football Txiki Begiristain — is set for a meeting with referees chief Mike Riley. Guardiola has urged officials to protect players but Sterling says that has fallen on deaf ears.
‘Some of the challenges have been awful,’ Sterling added. ‘These tackles can happen, but it can’t be every game we’re getting two players coming in with injuries.’
Sterling, set to start today at Burnley and with 19 goals for the season, was kissed by his manager after missing a big chance in midweek and admitted to taking some flak in the dressing room.
‘It was a bit strange!’ he added. ‘I didn’t think he was going to kiss me, I thought he was going to give me some advice, so when he kissed me I was thinking a bit, “Oh, OK”. I knew I was going to get a bit of banter from the boys.’
Guardiola is giving everyone a few days off after the trip to Turf Moor. And despite Sergio Aguero breaking a rib while away in Amsterdam in September, the manager said: ‘They can travel, they can do whatever they want.
‘They have to forget a little bit about football, be with their families and friends.
‘Wednesday afternoon we have to prepare for Leicester and Basle, but we need a break. Not just the players, the staff, the physios, everybody.’
The break will give City a chance to recharge before their assault on four competitions, but Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho claimed yesterday that the race for the Premier League title is already over.
United are second but trail by 15 points and the Portuguese has challenged his players to respond in the same way they did under Sir Alex Ferguson in 2006, securing a hat- trick of titles after Mourinho had won it in his first two years at Chelsea.
He said: ‘I always remember when Sir Alex said after we won the second title with Chelsea, we need to improve a lot because they have raised the bar to such a level.
‘ That was the click for the improvement of the team. In 2006-07, United won the title back. It has to be like that.’
Mourinho, whose side host Huddersfield Town today, insists his side have improved from last season but accepts that City have simply been too good for them.
‘We need points to be the first of the last,’ he said. ‘City are not letting others get close. The fight is open for second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth, but it’s practically closed for first.’
However, Guardiola insisted his team have won nothing yet. He said: ‘There are 13 games, 39 points to play for. Burnley is complicated — nobody can deny that. We’ve got Stoke, Tottenham, Arsenal, United, Everton, Chelsea. It’s definitely not over.’
Meanwhile, City starlet Tosin Adarabioyo is at the centre of a tug- of- war between England and Nigeria.
The 20-year- old defender has represented England up to Under 19 level, but Nigeria may be able to tempt him with the chance to play at the World Cup this summer.