Sporting CP – City: summary, result and goals | Champions League | Mark

Updated:

OR
One of the first missions that was marked Guardiola when he got to Manchester City was convert to Raheem Sterling into a total footballer. “This course has been outstanding in terms of goals and assists. I have known him for six years and during this period there have been ups and downs. They are part of life, not everything is a honeymoon”, said Pep after the win (0-4) in Norwich in which he signed a hat-trick.

With his triplet -seventh in his career- Sterling He was placed as the third top scorer in the Premier with 10 goals after the Reds Salah (16) and Jota (12). Only Mahrez (16) exceeds the 12 goals he has this season with the sky blues among all tournaments. With his renewal in the air -his contract ends in June 2023- he has accelerated before the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 today in Lisbon against Sporting from Portugal.

“No one doubts how important he is. If we count the number of games he has played since we have been together… There are many! He is a key player, but in the future I don’t know what will happen. I give my opinion, but the club decides the renewals”, highlighted a Guardiola that has him as one of his favorites. He is, with 275 games, the footballer who has played the most duels with him.

His 115 goals under his command place him on the podium of the most prolific with Pep behind Messi (211) and Agüero (124). Leo is the only one that surpasses Sterling in league goals (138 per 82) and in Champions (43 per 20) with Guardiola.

The English explained in 2019 how he increased his effectiveness: “Pep has asked me to be direct, to create more chances and to score. When I was playing on the wing and dribbling, I controlled with the outside of my foot and my speed dropped. He gives me little advice on the rhythm, on my position… he tells me: ‘He plays one touch!’

“The position of ‘9’ is incredible for him. He generates inside, outside, dribbles, he’s aggressive… He’s always there,” Guardiola said. The numbers exemplify his metamorphosis. Before Pep, Sterling played 176 games and scored 34 goals (0.2 per game). With him, his average is 0.4 (115 in 275). The Englishman wants to roar in the lair of the Portuguese champion and a lethal Pablo Sarabia. The former PSG player has 12 goals and 9 assists this season. The Spaniard is on a roll. He is the lion king.

We wish to say thanks to the author of this post for this outstanding content

Sporting CP – City: summary, result and goals | Champions League | Mark