Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has said Raheem Sterling played “really good” as a striker vs Paris Saint-Germain(PSG) in the champions leaque this week.
The England international, who has only scored once and registered one assist in nine appearances for City this season, was deployed in a No 9 role against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
Sterling led the line for City at Paris Saint-Germain and while he missed one excellent chance Pep Guardiola was delighted with his performance and the way he created space for others.
“Raheem played really good as a striker last game against PSG. He created incredible spaces for all of us,” he said when questioned on the 26-year-old’s recent form in Friday afternoon’s press conference.
“He created one special clear chance that [Gianluigi] Donnarumma was exceptional in saving and another down the left with the movements he had, that we needed in that specific game, the space, the quality, the movements and speed from zero to 100 he did it exceptionally well.”
“He can play there [on the right] but at the start of the season Gabby played really good there. [As a striker], especially with guys with one-on-ones like Jack and Riyad who can attract more opponents and PSG players to create the spaces in the other areas and we need a guy who runs in behind right to left, Raheem is the best we have in the squad.
“It depends sometimes on the opponents and the way we want to attack and specific players we need, we sometimes need specific qualities for that.
“I’d say Raheem can play good on the right, 100 points, played incredibly good on the left with 98, and as a striker he always has the movements to create something for himself in front of the goal, like Ferran. Both are so good at making movements in behind, especially the way he trained in the last week, I could see I thought he could do a good performance and he has done.”
These Guardiola’s comment on Sterling has prompt Plenty of Sky Blues to react on social media.
It’s gonna be a very long season https://t.co/ZxCr5aE8yZ pic.twitter.com/9sZxBE6avh
— Oskar (@KawaiKayky) October 1, 2021
NOOOO….
— CryMore (@Levybluemans) October 1, 2021
This statement is disturbing
— ENA (@9320City) October 1, 2021
did he watch the same game
— FT21xJG10🤩 (@McfcRobbo23) October 1, 2021
Pep stop this I’m begging you https://t.co/R9vyIVgGFU
— ayoito 🥷🏽🇧🇪🇳🇬🇮🇹 (@AyokunleOgunse1) October 1, 2021
Boss, Do you have eyes?!? 🙈 https://t.co/hJUfiPUI88
— The Next Legend (@PhilMount4719) October 1, 2021
Oh god please no
— Mahessan Suresh (@MahessanSuresh) October 1, 2021
Stop playing him there ffs
— 🇧🇼💫 #TxikiOut (@Cancelogoat) October 1, 2021
If He’s playing sterling on Sunday, I beg Pep plays him as a winger
— JulianMCFC (@julianwee03) October 1, 2021
The Sky Blues travel to Anfield in what is set to be one of their more crucial games of the season, especially considering Jurgen Klopp’s men have started 2021/2022 in fine form.
Man City’s last Premier League outing, a 1-0 away win at European champions Chelsea, will certainly provide Guardiola with plenty of encouragement that his side can repeat their Merseyside heroics from last season.
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