Sterling ‘worried confidence crisis affects future at Man City’

Oli Fisher
Raheem Sterling: City future cast into doubt

Raheem Sterling: City future cast into doubt

Raheem Sterling is said to be growing ‘increasingly nervous’ about his future at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola, according to reports.

The Daily Mirror state that the winger is concerned that Guardiola’s tiki-taka style does not suit his own game style.

Sterling was said to be distressed after his sub-par performance for England in Sunday’s 2-1 friendly win over Turkey and fears his time as a starter at City could already be coming to an end.

The winger’s progress since he moved to the Etihad Stadium has also been questioned by Liverpool legend John Barnes, who had some quite cutting comments about Sterling’s efforts at City.

The 21-year-old joined City from last summer from Liverpool in a £47million deal, but hasn’t had the strongest start with just six Premier League goals which has led to a crisis of confidence, and fears Guardiola does not have him in his initial plans.

In March, Sterling admitted he had not had the ideal start to life at the Etihad Stadium.

“My year has been a bit stop-start,” he said. “I started off really well at the start of the campaign. We went on an unbeaten run and we were top of the Premier League – and then I got a bit sloppy.

“I’m not trying to make up excuses or anything, but it was probably the number of games that were turning around. It made it very difficult for me. I’m still growing physically so that was a bit hard.

“As some of the physios and people at the club tell me, with the way my body’s built I probably need a couple of extra days than your normal player because of my muscle fibres.

“It sounds like science to me, but I do definitely feel it at times. That’s no excuse and I’m trying to recover quicker.”