BASIC INSTINCT

Champs boss Guardiola salutes Sterling return to goal trail

He has scored in his last three City games, having found the net in just two of his previous 30 appearances, stretching back to February.

But ahead of tomorrow’s clash wirth West Ham, Blues 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 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. Our England players got through to the final of the Euros, then two or three weeks later they came back, then it was the Community Shield, then we started the season at Tottenham.

“You can’t imagine how difficult it is, especially for the talented players. Every three days they have to be creative. But 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-bystep, he’ll come back.”

Sterling’s goalscoring heroics saw him lauded as one of the best attackers in world football and put Barcelona and Real Madrid on alert.

The 26-year-old plundered 20-plus goals in all competitions in three successive seasons, culminating in a career-best haul of 31 in the 2019-20 campaign.

Guardiola is wary of setting Sterling a goal target this season and said the best way forward is to play without that additional pressure. “We don’t put pressure on him with numbers,” said the coach. “Just try to play good in the next game, score goals, make an assist, and help win the games.

“At the end of the season, see how many goals you have scored, clean sheets, good saves – these kind of things.

“I have always said to the players to make demands of yourself, but don’t put a lot of pressure on your shoulders.

“You cannot always be 10 out of 10. You have highs and lows.

“The important thing is not to get that low.”

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.