Sterling work as City go top
PEP GUARDIOLA applauded Manchester City scorer Raheem Sterling a week on from the racism row that has engulfed football.
The England star emerged mentally strong to grab the clincher in a 3-1 victory over Everton which saw Guardiola’s champions return to the top of the Premier League table.
And the City boss delivered a heart-felt tribute to Sterling who netted after Dominic Calvert-Lewin pulled one back for the visitors following Gabriel Jesus’ opening double. Guardiola said: “I see him so calm. I think he has handled in the last years many situations.
“Rumours, people talking not nice things about him, his family or in that case the colour of his skin.
“So that is why I admire
him. He is calm, happy to be playing and beloved in the locker room.”
It seemed for a while that Sterling might not have even been in the City squard yesterday after his name didn’t appear on the original teamsheet handed out in the media room.
His No.7 wasn’t in the line-up – just a blank space where his name was expected to be.
But there was no doubting that Sterling was there in name and number when he completed the scoring with a point-blank header – much to the amusement of Guardiola (above).
He added: “Raheem, when he has no time to think in front of the keeper, it always ends with a goal.
“The problem is when he has time to think.
“The cross was incredible action from Fernandinho and good finishing.
“We are not the tallest team in the world.
“But it is important to play a few minutes and score goals.”