ABUSE WON’T SCARE STER
Turf Moor taunts not a problem, says Pep
PEP GUARDIOLA believes Raheem Sterling can handle the Premier League’s hate brigade.
The Manchester City boss insists Sterling is strong enough to deal with the taunts of rival supporters ahead of his return to Turf Moor today.
When he last played at Burnley, 15 months ago, the England star was goaded
with chants of “You’ve let your country down” after the Three Lions Euro 2016 failure.
The abuse appeared to get to Sterling, who was anonymous before being forced off injured, following a tackle by Ben Mee, to the delight of the Clarets fans.
Sterling also seemed cowed when targeted by Liverpool fans at Anfield during last month’s 4-3 defeat, and has yet to play well at his former club.
But Guardiola rejected any suggestion the 23-year-old is not mentally tough enough and pointed to his return of 19 goals and six assists, which show he is enjoying his best season to date.
“At Anfield I can understand, he was there and sometimes emotional things come out,” Guardiola said. “He’s a young player and I think he’s shown amazing things at difficult stages this season, playing at a good level home and away. “I don’t think he’s a guy who is scared to take responsibility, I think he showed many, many good things this season in those terms.” The Spaniard played down his young star’s disappointing display at Burnley.
“No, I don’t think too much about that,” he said. “Burnley away is a complicated game and every away game is complicated. But I haven’t considered that. Every player can play not so good, it’s not a problem.”
Sterling accepts the abuse from Liverpool fans, but is baffled by the hostility at other grounds.
“The Liverpool one I understand,” he told talkSPORT. “I’m a player that came through there and they were massive for me. “I just felt, at the time, it was the right thing – they see it different.
“When I go to other grounds, I get booed and I think, ‘Why are you lot getting involved?’ Sometimes you see it as a laugh and I don’t take it seriously.
“Like Cardiff, it’s a bit weird and they’re trying to get me off my game, to think negative. It doesn’t faze me any more.”
Guardiola wants one last effort from his battered and weary players before the rare luxury of three days off. He has not put restrictions on what they do with their free time, even though Sergio Aguero (left) broke a rib in a car crash after a concert in Amsterdam last year.
“They can travel, do whatever they want,” he added. “For three days they have to forget a little about football. We need a break. Not just the players, but the staff, the physios, everybody.
“It was a tough, tough period in winter.”