Raheem Sterling looks to continue his recent improvements against West Ham on Sunday benefitting from yet another example of Pep Guardiola’s excellent man management skills.
The more interesting question, as the England forward aims to score for a fourth consecutive game, is how much longer the Manchester City manager will have him at his disposal.
Contract talks between City and Sterling appear to have reached an impasse and Guardiola himself refused to discuss the topic last week. The 26-year-old’s current City deal expires in a little over 18 months and history has shown that the club do not allow leading players to enter the final year of contracts.
That raises the real possibility of Sterling being sold this summer, when City can still recoup some of the £49 million they paid for him in 2015, and with every passing week the striker is looking more and more of a saleable asset.
His decisive goal in the midweek win over PSG made it three in as many games, spectacularly bouncing back from a run, dating back to February, in which Sterling had scored just twice in his last 30 City appearances.
Sterling has certainly grown, almost visibly, in confidence in recent weeks – testimony to his manager’s amateur psychology skills – while a run out on his preferred wide right position in last week’s win against Everton also looked like a morale-boosting selection decision from Guardiola.
The manager himself insists the secret behind Sterling resurgence has been far more mundane.
“When players do (drop in form), they go back to the basics, they have to know it’s normal,” said Guardiola. “In this crazy calendar, more games, there is no time to rest. English players go into final of the Euros, then two or three weeks later they come back it’s the community shield, then [the opening game of the league season] Tottenham.
“You cannot imagine how difficult it is especially for the talented players – every three days they have to be creative. The guys who are physical and don’t have to think, they just run.
“They have to dribble, be creative, so demanding and sometimes you go back to basics, because we know your quality. Sometimes you help the team and the basics is enough.
“After that the confidence comes back and the team are winning. When one player doesn’t play good I don’t doubt them, I don’t think they don’t have the skills.
“I’m not going to tell Raheem he doesn’t have the quality he had in the last six years. He’s the same guy, come back to the basics and step by step he will come back.”
Whatever approach Guardiola adopted appears to have had the desired effect and Sterling seems likely to play another important role as City take on surprise top four contenders West Ham tomorrow.
And Sterling’s manager is looking for yet more improvement from the in-form forward.
“I’m so glad for him, he’s helped us for sure,” added Guardiola. “He will fight to be better and better. It is important for strikers and wingers to score and make assists. He was decisive in what we’ve done in recent years.
“Scoring goals can give confidence for these type of guys but he has to do better, be aggressive, go one against one, arrive in the final third. this is the first step for him to come back.”
City may be able to recall Phil Foden and Jack Grealish for the West Ham game but will be without Kevin De Bruyne who is still recovering from the effects of Covid-19.
“He’s still tired, no taste – the symptoms of Covid, now he’s done seven or eight days isolation,” said Guardiola. “A few more days and we will give a PCR and if it’s negative then he will be back.”
Where next for Sterling?
Arsenal
Forward has been often linked with return to his north London roots and could help perk up a strikeforce that has looked stale in recent months, ahead of a young, exciting midfield. Could lead Arteta’s Gunners revolution from the front.
Newcastle
Having seen his spark at City slowly fade over the last 18 months, a move north could revitalise his career. Marquee signing who could dovetail well with Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson.
Real Madrid
Beckham, McManaman, Woodgate, Bale.. The Galacticos have a recent history of British talent and Sterling’s versatility would offer Real options for a club still lacking a top name partner for Karim Benzema.
Barcelona
In a perilous state but are in need of a forward amid the concern over Sergio Aguero’s career. Perhaps unlikely but if a move can be sorted out, small winger-forwards have prospered at Camp Nou in recent years.
Chelsea
For all their scoring prowess this season, the European champions are still lacking a consistent striker, at least until Lukaku regains his fitness/if ever. Eden Hazard flourished in the floating role, drifting in from wide and Sterling could do likewise.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3xrvZP0
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