Pep sends a message to Sterling!
WINGER DROPPED FROM SQUAD FOR TRIP TO FULHAM
PEP Guardiola warned Raheem Sterling he will soon have even more competition for a place in the squad after leaving him out of the squad to face Fulham.
The winger, 26, has been one of the most-used and most successful players under the Catalan at City.
Only two outfield players have more minutes than him this season and his goal at Anfield last month saw him become the third player - after Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero - to score 100 goals on Guardiola’s watch.
City’s manager regularly rotates his pack and could have used Sterling’s workload this season to excuse his absence at Craven Cottage, but instead said in his pre-match interview that ‘tactical’ reasons were behind the decision.
And after the 3-0 win, the Blues boss was in no mood to elaborate on the player or offer him any reassurance over a return to the team.
Asked if the forward would come back into contention for the Champions League game on Tuesday, the response of the manager was: “On Sunday we will train and we will then see.”
Asked if Sterling simply needed a rest, Guardiola instead highlighted that defender Eric Garcia - who is set to leave for Barcelona on a free in the summer - merited inclusion and that Nathan Ake would also do so in the coming matches as the Blues strive to secure an historic Quad.
“Eric Garcia deserves to be here, Nathan too when he’s fit,” said Guardiola.
“Everybody wants to be involved from the beginning. Now it’s perfect as we rotate six or seven players from the beginning every game. Everyone is fit.
“When it’s working well its all ‘how brilliant we are in our decisions.’
“The route we are going to take is not to complain or say why we rotate or why the players didn’t play.
“To win the Premier League and all the titles we need everyone, everyone, everyone.
“We do the best for the club and the best for the team. When that happens, we can compete in all competitions for the year.”
An FA Cup match at home to Championship side Birmingham in January is the only other matchday squad Sterling has failed to make this season, while the fact he was an unused substitute last midweek against Southampton means this is the first time in more than a year that he has failed to play in successive games.
Given that UEFA allow 23-man matchday squads for Champions League games, it would be a major surprise if the England international did not return for tomorrow’s return leg against Borussia Monchengladbach, but Sterling will be under no illusions that he cannot take his place in the team for granted.