Manchester City: Raheem Sterling is like new signing under Pep Guardiola
Raheem Sterling has struggled since his move to Manchester City, but is now showing what he is capable of under Pep Guardiola.
Raheem Sterling joined Manchester City just over a year ago and struggled over the course of his first season. Sterling looked like he was lacking in confidence. Nothing like the exciting, vibrant, direct player he looked like at Liverpool.
But then Pep Guardiola came along. Guardiola arrived at City in the summer and Sterling has looked like the old Raheem Sterling ever since. Guardiola is showing how good he is at working with talent he is handed, rather than his own personal choice, and getting the best out of them.
And that’s why City paid so much for Sterling. People baulked at the £49 million transfer fee, but the fee was based on what they believe, in time, his best will ultimately be. His potential. Right now, Sterling is performing incredibly well. But it’s still not his full potential. That’s to come.
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Even right now the winger looks a different player under Guardiola than he did under Manuel Pellegrini. Pellegrini liked his wide players to play more infield, and although that suited David Silva and Samir Nasri when they played, it did not suit Sterling.
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Sterling needs to hug the touchline and play as a pure, old-school winger. Under Pellegrini, that wasn’t what was asked of him. Sterling spent more time infield playing short passes and linking up with the midfield. His form suffered.
Nobody looked at the tactics that were not getting the best out of him. Sterling just got the criticism and that was that. But the tactics of Pellegrini did not suit the winger. Under Guardiola, things are perfect for him.
Guardiola likes his wingers to stay wide and attack the full back at every opportunity. Sterling has now got back to that speedy, direct dribbler who was scaring defenses two years ago. With the likes of Silva and Kevin De Bruyne playing in midfield, he’s getting excellent service, too.
Even goals are coming for the 21-year-old now. Sterling has scored three goals in five Premier League games. It’s still early, but that goal ratio is representative of the start that Sterling has made this season.
He looks like a new signing. Guardiola signed a fair few players in the offseason, but Sterling might be his best newbie so far. He didn’t cost any money or involve a long, drawn-out transfer saga. It just took the magic touch of Guardiola.
Sterling is happier playing under the new City boss and he’s clearly happier with the change in tactics. If Sterling carries on as he is now, then Guardiola and the city fans will be equally as happy with him.