Guardiola looking to keep Sane and Sterling grounded
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is looking to keep enigmatic wide duo Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling grounded, as reported by the Daily Mail.
The City manager spoke after his side’s win over West Brom at the weekend, in which both players continued their superb run of form, keeping City ahead at the top of the league.
Sane opened the scoring with an excellent rising drive beyond Ben Foster, and Raheem Sterling set up Kyle Walker in the second-half, as City struck three. Fernandinho scored the other goal for Guardiola’s side, as they ran out as 3-2 victors at the Hawthorns.
He (Sane) is a guy with a special talent. He can run in behind so the opponent on that side knows he’s a guy who can attack the byline.
Both Sane and Sterling have been in sublime form throughout the course of the season, but Guardiola insists that there is work to be done.
Of course he scored a fantastic goal, but I’ve always said to him – and to Raheem, another goal, seven games, seven goals – that they still have a big, big gap to improve.
I would like to tell them to be calm. Scoring goals is so important, playing well is so important, but still they can do better. I don’t have any doubts about that, because they are still young. We will take the opportunity to work with them and maybe we can help them.
The Spanish tactician is evidently keen to unlock the pair’s undeniable amount of potential, and is calling on them to maintain this level throughout the course of the campaign.
When he has the ball, don’t lose the ball. I don’t ask him to dribble, I don’t ask him to make good passes, or ask him to do good shots. It is the simple things. In both of them, they have this important thing to do.
Guardiola will hope that his wide men can produce in what promises to be an intriguing week for City. They take the trip to the Stadio San Paolo in midweek to face Napoli in the Champions League, before welcoming Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.