Chantilly: Pep Guardiola has telephoned Raheem Sterling to tell the under-fire England forward how important he is to his plans for Manchester City.
The “Pep talk” from the new City manager came before England’s final Euro 2016 group game against Slovakia last Monday when Sterling lost his place in the starting line-up after a frustrating performance in the first tie of the group against Russia and had then been substituted at half time in the second match against Wales.
Sterling’s confidence has undoubtedly been affected by being out of the City team under previous manager Manuel Pellegrini towards the end of last season after making a bright start to his career at the club following his move from Liverpool for a fee that could rise to pounds 49 million. However, it is clear that he has a key role to play under Guardiola, who stressed in his conversation with the player how much he was looking forward to working with him and helping him to develop.
It is understood that Sterling — along with Kevin De Bruyne — is one of the City players Guardiola is most enthused about among the squad he is inheriting. Indeed, it appears that the former Bayern Munich coach may have been consulted before City bought both players last summer for record fees.
Sterling is still just 21 and although his first campaign at City ultimately ended in disappointment, the club remain convinced he is a good signing and will prove to be value for money over time. With his youth, pace and technical ability, Sterling fits the profile of the kind of player Guardiola wants to work with. Sterling will be encouraged by the way the Spaniard developed exciting young attacking players such as 20-year-old France international Kingsley Coman at Bayern.
It is accepted that Sterling needs to recover his form and confidence, and he took to social media after the Russia game to describe himself on Instagram as “TheHatedOne”. That perhaps offered an insight into how his self-belief has suffered but he is understood to have been lifted greatly by Guardiola’s phone call.
“Pep told Raheem, ‘As long as you work for me, I will fight for you,’” a source close to Sterling revealed. “He said, ‘Keep your head up. Don’t worry. I know you are a good player and you are a big part of my plans.’”
The call has had the desired effect on Sterling, who recently spoke of his admiration for Guardiola and the improvements he can make under him next season. Sterling is not expected to start the last-16 tie against Iceland in Nice on Monday but the England camp will be pleased that Guardiola’s intervention has paid off already.
— The Telegraph Group Limited, London 2016
