There were three main talking points from Manchester City’s late 2-1 win over Southampton in midweek. Funnily enough, City’s 12th successive league victory flew under the radar and they’re expected to match Chelsea’s 13-match winning run with Sunday’s welcome of West Ham. Secondly, Pep Guardiola’s ‘pep talk’ with Saints ace Nathan Redmond following the full-time whistle has been a prominent feature of the back pages in the days following the victory, even with Redmond admitting Guardiola was complimentary in the animated discussion.
Finally – another late goal by Raheem Sterling. For the second time in the space of three days, the England international scored a winning goal at the death to secure a vital three points for the runaway league leaders. Sterling has now scored nine Premier League goals this season, equaling his best return in a single campaign, that feat achieved for Liverpool in the 2013/14 season. You’d expect him to reach double figures this weekend.
The timings of the goals have been crucial, with Sterling netting more times from the 75th minute onwards (5) than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues. What’s more, his goals have earned City more points (9) than any other Premier League performer, with this new-found maturity and composure in front of goal the result of some fine work by Guardiola on the training ground.
There was a video doing the rounds on social media last month of Guardiola showing Sterling what to do when he receives a pass with his back to goal, with the City boss instructing the 22-year-old to make a run in behind when he releases possession rather then wait for a return pass. It paid dividends with Sterling carrying out Guardiola’s instructions to a tee as he did just this to break Feyenoord down in City’s 1-0 Champions League win at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola has played an influential role in Sterling’s rapid development. Last season, the youngster showed signs that he had another level to take his game, but looked to have held back. This term, though, Sterling has broken through that ceiling and City are a far stronger side for it. He’s abided to the demands of his manager and put the lessons learned into practice to ensure City have scored 12 more Premier League goals (44) than any other top-flight team this season.
“At the moment it feels like he is the main man for us,” Ilkay Gundogan said of Sterling after the midweek victory over Saints, which is a huge compliment given he operates in a side containing David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Leroy Sane, Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus. Given the timing of his goals and the points they have won, however, you’d be hard pressed to argue with Gundogan.
Having been unfairly scapegoated after England’s dismal Euro 2016 showing, Sterling’s gone some way to silencing his critics and has now established himself as a key man under Guardiola for City. It bodes well for the Premier League side in their quest for domestic and continental glory, with his ever blossoming relationship with his fellow City attackers allowing for the forward line to dovetail effectively.
Indeed, reports of a new deal in the offing for the former Liverpool man comes as little shock considering his fine form in the final third for City. When Guardiola first took charge last summer, Sterling was pinpointed as the player to benefit from his teachings after while it looked as though his career would stall, he has come on leaps and bounds with Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium helm, particularly in recent months.
His versatility and ability to either cut infield or go down the line past an opponent means he is the ideal player in a Guardiola side. With his significant upturn in form, City continue to exert their dominance upon unsuspecting sides and Sterling is a key man for the Premier League title favourites. His stellar showings are little more than deserved for a player who is developing accordingly and willing to soak up all the knowledge from the training pitch as possible and it certainly shows.
