If my players want to go, they can go!
PEP’S WARNING FOR STERLING…
PEP GUARDIOLA warned his Manchester City squad he cannot guarantee any of them minutes amid Raheem Sterling’s frustration with a lack of game time.
Sterling revealed that he would consider leaving the Etihad if he continues to be regularly consigned to a place on the bench.
Guardiola maintained that past achievements have no bearing on selection and implored his players to demonstrate that they are indispensable. ‘I cannot assure them game time, any one of them — they have to prove themselves,’ Guardiola said.
‘Raheem’s such an important player for us, many players are so important. If they are not satisfied, it is so simple. With their agents, go to the club and say, “I am not happy, I want to leave” and we are going to find a solution.
‘I am pretty sure of that. We want people committed and happy to be here. You want more minutes? I cannot assure them, not Raheem, not any of them.’
Guardiola added: ‘Where you have to show how wrong I am is three o’clock on the pitch. The guys playing against Burnley, stay calm and help the team. Show me how wrong I was, or make me feel bad.
‘The biggest athletes in the world, they speak on the grass. That is where they have to talk.
‘You are complaining... then OK, go out and win the game. The message is not just for Raheem, it is for all the players.’
City were aware of the prerecorded interview Sterling gave to a Financial times sport summit and Guardiola insisted he had no problem with the discussion. The pair have held talks recently and parked their differences of opinion. Sterling, who has 20 months left on his deal, will not commit to negotiating a new contract until his short-term future is resolved.
His comments came as Ferran Torres was ruled out for up to three months with a metatarsal fracture sustained on international duty with Spain. Torres went into the Nations League final with a niggle but passed a fitness test, only to then suffer the fracture.
Guardiola was already short on strikers and is also without Gabriel Jesus today. City will welcome back youngster Liam Delap in the coming weeks after injury, with Phil Foden or Sterling the most likely to lead the line against Burnley. Sterling (left) has started only two Premier League games so far this term, one of them on the opening weekend at Tottenham after only just returning from holiday. ‘Of course it’s not easy (dropping players), but Raheem played in the Champions League final,’ Guardiola said. ‘I don’t select the players for what they’ve done in the past. It’s today, how you train, how we are going to play against Burnley. ‘He’s the same player. He has the same wife, same kids. The same training sessions. All the same. People change, you know? You have highs and lows in a career, that’s normal.
‘When I have something to say to Raheem, I invite him into my office. I never used the cameras to send a message to a player.
‘Raheem is an exceptionally nice lad. I know him quite well, we’ve had five years here together. He would never do anything to damage the team or his mates.’
Referencing Lionel Messi, Guardiola added: ‘I had a player who always scored three goals and always played. You are so good to demand something, go out there and score three goals.
‘I’m silly, but not silly enough to not let you play when you score three goals every time. No, no, no.’