RAHEEM STERLING will not be hauled from the firing line — despite an alarming dip in form.
Sterling enjoyed a brilliant first half of the season but since Christmas has suffered a nightmare run, with some Manchester City fans calling for him to be dropped.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola will keep his faith in Raheem SterlingCredit: Reuters
The England striker, 25, hit 19 goals before the end of November, yet has drawn a blank in his last seven games and not scored at the Etihad in over three months.
Yet even though Sterling may look like a man in need of a break, boss Pep Guardiola insists the answer is to play his way back to his best.
Guardiola said: “He is one of the guys I’ve met in my career who can recover quicker than I’ve seen before. It’s incredible.
“He could play every two games and, of course, the more he plays, the better and better he feels — all the players feel that.”
Sterling’s form took a downturn after a controversial run-in with Joe Gomez on England duty.
He was dropped for a Euro qualifier against Montenegro after confronting the Liverpool defender following City’s 3-1 Premier League defeat in November.
Since then he has scored only six times and missed wo sitters in the Carabao Cup semi-final clashes with neighbours United.
No other City player can match his 39 appearances for club and country this season.
And he will be one of the first names on the teamsheet for today’s clash at Spurs.
Guardiola added: “Unfortunately he did not score but he was there, so I am more than delighted with the performance against United.
“The people with statistics relating to goals and assists, say it has been a month. But I am not judging Raheem just for that. It is important, but not the only thing.
Raheem Sterling has scored 11 Premier League goals this seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
“He defended brilliantly against Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the last game and had clear chances that no other player could create for themselves.
“Every player needs to play regularly, every player needs more minutes to help their form, but I cannot give it to them.
“They have to train and be ready for the minutes we give them — and he was.”
The title may have gone but City are second in the table, fancied to win the Champions League and favourites for both domestic cups.
Yet such are the standards and demands at the Etihad these days, the end of the season will be judgement day for as many as EIGHT stars.
Suggesting they are playing for their City futures may be stretching the point, but Guardiola will begin a rebuild in the summer.
And for some of those in sky blue shirts, the next three months are going to be crucial in deciding whether they are still around to be part of it.
Last year’s awesome foursome means nothing but with Liverpool on the cusp of a first Premier League crown, for some City supporters European glory is a must.
Even winning the Carabao Cup — they are red-hot favourites to beat Aston Villa in the final on March 1 — and the FA Cup would not be enough.
And that has left around £250million worth of talent fighting to show Guardiola they should be part of his ongoing plans.
There are defensive concerns over John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi, Benjamin Mendy, Kyle Walker, Joao Cancelo and Angelino, who will spend the rest of the season on loan at RB Leipzig.
Gabriel Jesus has still to convince he is the long-term answer when record scorer Sergio Aguero — at 31 in his twilight years — does move on.
And although he is recovering from knee ligament damage, Leroy Sane has yet to sign a new contract and is wanted by Bayern Munich.
On top of that, David Silva and back-up keeper Claudio Bravo are out of contract this summer and will leave.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
