Manchester City midfielder Raheem Sterling has stated he did not “think one minute” about Arsenal’s
wish to buy him in the summer when he learned of the club’s interest.
The forward was wanted by Arsenal as part of a deal that would have
taken Alexis Sanchez to Manchester City. However Pep Guardiola did not
contemplate allowing the 22-year-old to leave and Sterling has rewarded
the manager’s faith by scoring six times in the Premier League and seven
in all competitions.
Sterling said he did not discuss with Guardiola a potential move to
Arsenal, after discovering the club’s interest when with England in
August. “I didn’t need to speak to him because I already spoke to him in
the summer,” Sterling said.
“I didn’t have any negative thoughts. I just woke up one day with
England, didn’t believe a word of it. I didn’t need to worry about it –
didn’t think about it one minute.”
Sterling signed from Liverpool in July 2015 and views his long-term
future at City. “I signed for five years,” he said. “I have three and a
half years left.”
Sterling is City’s joint top-scorer, with Sergio Agüero and Gabriel
Jesus. His other goal came in the 2-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in
City’s second Champions League match.
City host Napoli today and Sterling wants to continue his stellar form
with the World Cup in Russia at the close of the campaign. “Yeah, it is
massive year for me, for the team and I need to keep building, keep
working hard and go to the World Cup on a positive,” Sterling said.
His highest club tally of goals in a season is 11, achieved twice with
Liverpool. Sterling appears certain to eclipse this, having managed 10
last term. “I just need to continue focusing on getting into goalscoring
areas, getting into the box because that is where the majority of my
goals come from,” he said. “I am trying to build on the year before.”
Sterling praised Guardiola’s contribution to his game. “He’s been
massive for me especially with basic stuff – he always tries to get you
to do the simple things at top level and that’s the genius thing about
him. It works, too.”
Sterling’s six league goals have come at the best strike-to-minutes
ratio in the Premier League. “It is something I have been trying to
improve, scoring more goals, being more efficient and being more
clinical,” he said. “That has been a massive question mark.”
Whereas City have won both group games, Napoli lost their opening match
at Shakhtar. However Maurizio Sarri’s side are unbeaten in Serie A which
they lead by two points. Of the challenge that awaits his side,
Guardiola said: “It is not a team that is going to wait. They make high
pressing and amazing buildup in the middle. They have three guys who are
so dynamic: [Lorenzo] Insigne, [Dries] Mertens and [José] Callej?n.
They make runs in behind – especially Callej?n. In the middle they have
[Marek] Hamsik who can also run in behind.
“The set pieces are also good. The goalkeeper [Pepe Reina] is also good;
the leader of his team-mates, he has the quality to make the buildup.”
Guardiola has a fully-fit Aguero available, following a rib
injury.“Yesterday he had an amazing training session,” the manager said.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola (left) watches as midfielder Raheem Sterling speaks at a press conference in Manchester yesterday. (AFP)