KEEP IT UP OR SIT IT OUT Guardiola’s warning after five-star show 0 5
Champions Manchester City have won their past 15 Premier League games, just three short of their own top-flight record set two years ago.
Yet after Raheem Sterling’s hattrick and goals for Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero, the City boss threw down the challenge to his men.
“If they want to play, they have to play good,” he said. “If they want to play next game, they have to play good.
“We must maintain high standards. After 180 points [actually 198, Pep] for two seasons, you need that. You have to feel pressure. Myself, first, you have to feel it. If you don’t, you have a tendency to relax, to be sloppy, like we did in the first half.”
Guardiola revealed Riyad Mahrez, poised to get a run with Leroy Sane injured, cut his own holiday short despite reaching the Africa Cup of Nations Final with Algeria.
“Riyad called me after they win the Copa Africa,” he said. “He said, ‘I need just 10 days. I wanna come back soon. I wanna play’. I like it. That’s why I decide, ‘OK, I want to play him’.” Of Bernardo Silva
RAHEEM SETMEBRALIRNGGOiEsDmTaOtu1r0i.n3g0iPnMto arguably their key player. He’s ManchesteBryCDitayr’rsekneLyemwaisn, never dropped and is now according RED to Jack HOT Wilshere. Raheem Sterling is maturing probably the into first Manchester name on
City’s key player according to Jack the Wilshere. teamsheet for Pep. Hat-trick Sterling hero Sterling, hit a sizzling right, hat-trick to crush West Ham at the crushed “He’s a nightmare to play
London West Ham Stadium. at the It London added to his strike in last week’s Stadium, Community and the Hammers Shield win and his 25 against. goals for You the don’t Treble know winners if midfieldlearstsasieda:s“oHn.e was brilliant – he’s going to come inside and and he wasWbilrsihlleiarne,t wlahsot wy eanrt. tHoe’tshe Brahzeil’sWsorlsdhaCruppowffitthheStmeralrinkg.”in playing 2in0a14g,rpeaitdtteraibmutbeutoheh’is resilience in defying hisDcAriRticRsE. being on the bench, he added: “Bernardo had done nothing wrong, but there was some little muscular problems. I want them to know I trust all of them.
“That is the truth. After four seasons I don’t not like one player who is with us – I trust them and they have to compete with opponents, and with each other.”
And Kevin De Bruyne, who must have made his manager’s day with the way he pulled the strings, believes City have plenty of room for improvement. “It was far from perfect,” he said. “The first half was a little bit tough – we couldn’t find our rhythm and our organisation was a bit chaotic. But it’s the first game and this is the way it’s going to go at the beginning. In the second half, we came out strong, scored a few quick goals and it
became easier.” is kickabouts in the garden with his two young sons Leo and Milo, who were both at the Vitality Stadium to witness his heroics.
The Blades striker said: “I’m feeling sharp. Maybe it was written in the stars.To get the first Sheffield United goal in the Premier League is something I’ll never forget. It was a typical goal for me. I score them in the garden with the kids.
“Maybe I’ve got a point to prove to myself. I know I can score goals at Premier League level. I’m glad I’ve got one. It’s nice to score in every division of English football.”