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Tag: Raheem Sterling

  • REVEALED: Xavi’s three demands in Barca deal, includes Raheem Sterling

    REVEALED: Xavi’s three demands in Barca deal, includes Raheem Sterling

    Xavi will return to Barcelona with three demands he insist be met.

    After several days of negotiations over a release from his contract, the Qataris have confirmed Xavi is now leaving to return to the Nou Camp and replace sacked coach Ronald Koeman.

    Sport says during talks with Barca officials, Xavi pushed for agreement over three points.

    First of all, he wants the club’s medical services to be restructured.

    Then, he wants to take with him seven members of his current staff. This would be his two assistants, Oscar Hernandez, who is also his brother, and Sergio Alegre, but also Ivan Torres, physical trainer, and Carlos Nogueira, physiotherapist. David Prats, Toni Lobo and Sergio Garcia, all recruiters, would also follow Xavi.

    Finally, he wants the recruitment of a winger in January. If he is confident about the return of Ousmane Dembélé, who is injured again, he wants an additional player for the position.

    Manchester City attacker Raheem Sterling is under consideration.

  • Why Raheem Sterling is struggling this season

    Why Raheem Sterling is struggling this season

    Former England coach Glenn Hoddle says Raheem Sterling’s form struggles this season with Manchester City this season could be due to the current system employed by manager Pep Guardiola.

    Victory at Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday night again saw Raheem Sterling start from the bench for Manchester City.

    The England international would eventually enter the action for the final minutes as City won 2-1 to reach the Champions League semifinals 4-2 on aggregate. But in terms of this season, it was a typical evening for Sterling, who has lost his first-choice status as City have forged ahead in their push for an unprecedented Quadruple.

    For Hoddle, Sterling’s battle to earn a regular start could be influenced by Guardiola’s preference of playing with a false nine this season. The Tottenham great believes Sterling’s game benefits when he has a centre-forward to work off – as he does with England and Tottenham striker Harry Kane.

    Hoddle said on his podcast ‘ The Glenn Hoddle Footy Show’: “Maybe Sterling misses having that focal centre-forward. I don’t know…

    “He’s had a spell there in the false centre-forward role as the players have rotated. (Kevin) De Bruyne has been there as they have also done it with Phil Foden and all different types, including Sterling himself.

    “Maybe he’s one who needs that focal centre-forward in there and Aguero has been out for so long that it’s affected his game a little bit.”

    However, Hoddle says any criticism of Sterling is undeserved, insisting the attacker’s consistency during his time with City should force his critics to cut him some slack.

    He continued, “But hey, he’s been very consistent over season after season. It’s impossible to keep churning performances out, time after time. He’s just hitting a bit of a blip. But I’m sure he’ll come good again.

    “He’s not been playing bad, don’t get me wrong. He just hasn’t affected the game as he has done. He’s set a standard so high… sometimes it’s tough to keep that Standard.”

  • I’ve had a very weird season – Sterling

    I’ve had a very weird season – Sterling

    Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling has admitted his poor form this season under Pep Guardiola at Etihad.

    Sterling has played a vital role in City’s domestic success over the past five years, helping them win back-to-back titles in 2017-18 and 2018-19 while taking his tally of goals for the club to 113 across all competitions.

    However, the 26-year-old has seen his role reduced slightly this term, with Guardiola having been forced to rotate his squad more often than usual due to the congested fixture schedule caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Sterling has struggled for consistency throughout the campaign as he’s been drafted in and out of City’s starting XI, and has opened up on his frustration ahead of their Champions League quarter-final second-leg clash with Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.

    “Don’t get me wrong, this season for me personally has been a very weird one,” the England international said during a sit down with Rio Ferdinand for BT Sport.

    “But nevertheless I’m still enjoying my football and giving my all to the team. If I don’t score or do something to help the team I’m not happy coming off the field.

    “Of course I am happy we’ve won but at the same time I think that’s what helps me to get these goals is to be that driven and it’s the perfect time in the season now.”

  • EPL: City win leaves Watford vulnerable to relegation

    EPL: City win leaves Watford vulnerable to relegation

    Watford failed to ease their relegation fears in the wake of Nigel Pearson’s surprise sacking as they were hammered by a Raheem Sterling-inspired Manchester City.

    Defeat means the Hornets’ battle to stay up will go to the final day of the season on Sunday, when they visit Arsenal.

    Pearson became the Hornets’ third managerial casualty of the campaign on Monday, leaving Under-23 coach Hayden Mullins and his assistant Graham Stack in charge for their final two games.

    And they could hardly have had a tougher first assignment than against City, who completed the double over them with this win, at an aggregate score of 12-0 – a joint Premier League record for one team against another in a single season.

    Sterling took the game away from the home side before half-time, firing in a rising shot to open the scoring before doubling the advantage by following up his own saved penalty – awarded for a foul on him by Will Hughes.

    Phil Foden added a third after Ben Foster had parried a Sterling shot before Aymeric Laporte nodded in from Kevin de Bruyne’s free-kick.

    City’s fourth straight league win could have been even more emphatic but Gabriel Jesus had an injury-time header ruled out for offside.

    This could well be important to Watford, with goal difference potentially a crucial deciding factor going into the weekend.

    The defeat leaves the Hornets 17th, three points above Aston Villa and Bournemouth – all three clubs have the same goal difference of -27.

    A Villa victory over Arsenal later on Tuesday will mean the Hornets start Sunday in the bottom three, with their fate no longer in their own hands.

    BBC

  • Adidas keen on Sterling move to Madrid

    Adidas keen on Sterling move to Madrid

    Real Madrid are eyeing Manchester City attacker Raheem Sterling.

    The Times says Sterling is edging ever closer to penning a record-breaking deal with sportswear giants Adidas.

    The bumper contract would be worth over £10million with various incentives introduced – and the partnership may also help realise Sterling’s rumoured future ambition of playing for Real Madrid.

    The company are keen on Sterling moving to the Spanish capital this summer.

    The reported terms they have offered to the England international would make up the largest kit deal tabled for a British player.

    Sterling’s current deal with Nike is set to expire on July 31, and he is said to be aware of how Adidas helped Beckham secure his transfer to the Bernabeu in 2003.

  • Sterling shines as Manchester City run riot against Brighton

    Sterling shines as Manchester City run riot against Brighton

    Raheem Sterling struck a hat-trick as Manchester City crushed Brighton 5-0 at the AmEx Stadium in the 2019/2020 English Premier League (EPL) on Saturday.

    Second-placed Manchester City had lost their previous three away games but never looked likely to extend that streak against a Brighton side that struggled from the outset.

    Sterling, who has now netted 27 goals in all competitions, opened the scoring in the 21st minute.

    That was when he collected a nod-down from Gabriel Jesus outside the penalty kick box and superbly drove it into the bottom corner.

    Jesus made it 2-0 just before the break, turning in from close range after Rodri had headed a corner kick goalwards.

    Second-placed Manchester City had lost their previous three away games but never looked likely to extend that streak against a Brighton side that struggled from the outset.

    Sterling, who has now netted 27 goals in all competitions, opened the scoring in the 21st minute.

    Manchester City took total charge in the second half, with Kevin De Bruyne striking the post in the 51st minute.

    Two minutes later Sterling headed in a fine curling cross from Riyad Mahrez.

    Bernardo Silva made it four and then Sterling bundled in the fifth in the 81st minute, the ball bouncing in off his head after he had fallen to the floor.

    The result ensures that Manchester City, now on 72 points, will finish in the runners-up spot.

    They will however have to wait for the decision from the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) on Monday to find out if they will be able to compete in next season’s UEFA Champions League.

    Manchester City have been banned from European competition for two years by UEFA but appealed to CAS in a bid to overturn the decision.

    “We’ve qualified for the Champions League which was the minimum requirement for this club.

    “We won it on the pitch and hopefully on Monday UEFA will allow these players to play next season. They deserve to be in the Champions League,” said Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.

    Whatever the outcome of that ruling, City remain in this season’s competition with the second-leg of their last 16 game against Real Madrid coming up in August.

    “I was pleased with everything tonight – the result and the levels we reached. We are now at a good level and are ready to play the last games of the Premier League and in the Champions League,” Guardiola said.

    “We’ve qualified for the Champions League which was the minimum requirement for this club.

    “We won it on the pitch and hopefully on Monday UEFA will allow these players to play next season. They deserve to be in the Champions League,” said City manager Pep Guardiola.

    Whatever the outcome of that ruling, Manchester City remain in this season’s competition with the second leg of their last 16 game against Real Madrid coming up in August.

    “I was pleased with everything tonight ——- the result and the levels we reached. We are now at a good level and are ready to play the last games of the Premier League and in the Champions League,” Guardiola said.

  • Sterling admits being Man Utd fan amid transfer talks

    Sterling admits being Man Utd fan amid transfer talks

    Manchester City attacker Raheem Sterling has admitted being a big Manchester United fan when growing up.

    It emerged on Sunday that United are pondering a shock move for Sterling.

    The Independent says Sterling is a name the club’s analytics department ‘have been working on’ as they settle on their summer targets.

    And it’s emerged Sterling has stated he grew up supporting United.

    Speaking to the Mirror last year he admitted he used to support the club.

    “I was at the final in 2007,” he said.

    “I shouldn’t really say this — not now, definitely not now! — but when I was young I was a massive United fan. I had an old United kit, from when they won the last FA Cup.”

  • Man Utd in shock move for Raheem Sterling

    Man Utd in shock move for Raheem Sterling

    Manchester United are pondering a shock move for Manchester City attacker Raheem Sterling.

    The Independent says Sterling is a name the club’s analytics department ‘have been working on’ as they settle on their summer targets.

    At this stage, Jadon Sancho is the priority.

    United, supposedly, ‘will do anything’ to get the Borussia Dortmund star, who has been in electric form over at the Westfalenstadion this season.

    But the report suggests the Red Devils are interested in signing Sterling from their fierce rivals, with the player’s future at the Etihad uncertain.

    As things stand City are banned from playing in the Champions League for the next two years.

    They have, however, appealed UEFA’s punishment – which was for breaching financial fair play regulations.

    If City are unsuccessful, though, United will reportedly go after Sterling with the club convinced he’d be a shrewd signing.

  • I really want Messi’s shirt – Sterling

    I really want Messi’s shirt – Sterling

    Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling admits he wants to get his hands on one of Lionel Messi’s shirts, even if he might not rush to put it on his wall.

    Sterling who is building up a collection after swapping his jersey with star opponents following big games, but he keeps them locked away.

    The 25-year-old says he is waiting until the end of his career before bringing together his silverware and framing his shirt collection.

    “I am a shirt collector but I don’t put any shirts on my wall as of yet,” Sterling told BBC Radio 5 Live.

    “I don’t like people coming into my house and knowing I am a football player. I like to keep my house family orientated.

    “But for sure when I do finish football and settle somewhere I’ll have all the shirts – hopefully many shirts to choose from – and pick my favourites that I played against and do a room of trophies and football shirts.

    “There’s only one I really want and that’s a Messi shirt – when we played Barcelona I got a Neymar shirt, I think that’s the first shirt I ever asked for.”

  • Sterling hails Real Madrid amid City exit rumours

    Sterling hails Real Madrid amid City exit rumours

    Raheem Sterling says Real Madrid are a “fantastic club” but insists he is “really happy” at Manchester City.

    Sterling, 25, has been linked with a move to Real following City’s two-year ban from European competition.

    “Right now I’m at City and I’m really happy. But I say Real Madrid are a fantastic club,” Sterling told Spanish outlet AS.

    “When you see the white shirt you know exactly what the club stands for, it’s massive.”

    The England international added: “But at the same time, I have a contract with City now and I have to respect this. But it’s a fantastic club.”

    City play Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League, with the first leg at the Bernabeu on Wednesday and the return game at Etihad Stadium on 17 March.

    The Spanish giants have lifted the trophy on a record 13 occasions, including three in successive seasons under Zinedine Zidane between 2016 and 2018.

    “I think to win the Champions League so many times especially in a row as well is very difficult,” Sterling said of Zidane, who left Real shortly after that third win in 2018 before returning for a second spell at the Bernabeu in March.

    “I don’t think that’s luck, it’s definitely a formula. Some people have that winning mentality and he wins by any means.

    “I’d say it’s something he has probably developed over his great career as a player and he’s developing his career as a manager so it continues this winning touch.”