Sterling must behave like the greats – Guardiola
h city manager tells dropped player to stop media outbursts h forward urged to follow example of NBA legend Jordan
Pep Guardiola has told Raheem Sterling to behave like a champion and follow the example of Michael Jordan by doing his talking on the pitch when trying to win his place back in Manchester City’s team.
Sterling has started only two of City’s past eight matches, though he could well be in the team for today’s FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea. The England forward had been overlooked for both Champions League games against Borussia Dortmund.
Guardiola says Sterling must not voice his concerns through the media and challenged him to seize every opportunity to prove it was wrong for him to be left out of City’s biggest matches of the season so far.
“Every day, people talk about the past, and the quadruple,” Guardiola said. “I care about the last training session and about how you behave, your understanding and your body language, mood, and then against Chelsea in the semi-final. That’s where they have to talk. There is the place.
“Every three days you have another game. Show me then, after I will come to you and say, ‘Oh f---, how wrong I was. You were right and you are a top talent’. You do it there, not writing books.”
Sterling recently gave an interview to BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand in which he told the former England centre-back that the season “for me personally has been a very weird one”. He also admitted his frustration when unable to score or provide an assist and then being substituted.
Guardiola cited the career of Jordan in basketball as the person for footballers to follow, as his major statements were made on the court.
“In a semi-final of a Champions League, go there and win the game
like the biggest stars do, and after I’ll say I’m sorry. This is the greatest and I had the greatest. The greatest are like this. They go there and score two or three goals,” Guardiola said.
“I say, ‘Oh f---, he was right and I am wrong’. Michael Jordan never went to the media and talked about his manager or agent or whatever and criticise or write books. He won six NBA titles. Show it. The big ones are there. The only way I know in my career.”
Guardiola pointed out that Sterling had played the third most minutes of his outfield players this season and that he remained a key part of his plans. It is the form of Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez that has recently block his path.
Following Kevin De Bruyne’s contract agreement last week, Sterling would be next in line for a new deal, as he has two full seasons left on his terms at the Etihad Stadium. He has split with his long-term agent this season and is likely to follow De Bruyne’s example and negotiate any deal himself.
Meanwhile, Guardiola confirmed
that Sergio Aguero would not be fit for the semi-final at Wembley and that Zack Steffen would continue in goal after playing in the earlier rounds of the Cup while Ederson was rested.
“Zack is a lovely guy, training good and he deserves [it] – I’m more than delighted to give him the chance,” Guardiola said. “He has the personality, he has composure.
“No one in the world is like Eddie [Ederson] with the quality of his feet in short and long passing, nobody. I don’t want Zack to do what Eddie does. He has to do what he can, try to save the balls, concede as few chances as possible and do a good game. We trust him a lot.”
Chasing a quadruple looked unlikely when City faced Chelsea in January in the middle of an injury and Covid-19 crisis at the club, and being outside the top four. Guardiola says the 3-1 win gave his team belief for the season and they carried on winning through January and February.
“It was the turning point of our season,” he said. “At Stamford Bridge with 14 players available with a lot of players injured and Covid, that was the moment we believed, ‘If we can do it there, we can do it every day’. Chelsea made us feel like we could do it like we have done in the past.
“Sometimes human beings in difficulty make something extra. They said we had incredible problems and everyone gave extra.”