Pep Guardiola warns Raheem Sterling over late showboating in Manchester derby
Raheem Sterling was given a ticking off by Pep Guardiola for showboating at the end of Manchester City’s comfortable derby win as the manager warned his players there could be no slacking off in the title race.
Sterling was spotted doing a series of step-overs from a stationary position to a chorus of “Oles” from City supporters in the final seconds of the champions’ eighth win in nine league games.
The England forward’s antics angered Juan Mata, the Manchester United midfielder, and Guardiola was later seen grabbing Sterling and telling him not to indulge in such antics.
Asked about the incident, the City manager said: “Her made some movements with the legs, we can avoid it, but he is young, he can improve. But I like a lot how he played.”
City remain two points clear of Liverpool at the top of the table but Guardiola believes there can be no let up with Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal also enjoying strong starts to the campaign.
“Man City right now, and Liverpool and Chelsea, and even Arsenal and Tottenham, they have numbers to be champions,” Guardiola said. “It’s not just Man city. The numbers for Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham are numbers to be champions. Last season we didn’t get points in Anfield. We drew [this season]. Last season [against United], we lost here. Now we won. So it is good. The important thing is we are consistent.
“It is two points [to Liverpool], four points from Chelsea, it is nothing but good. When you win 100 points [as City did last season], people ask you, ‘Can you retain your level?’
“Everybody has to be on a level if they want to stay there. That is good but I am so satisfied. But if we maintain our level and Liverpool win, we shake hands. We will have no regrets. If we do it in that way we can lose but with our heads up because we won’t have complaints.”
Guardiola was not overly impressed with City’s first half performance but pleased with the display after the interval. “The first half was not so good, we played like, ‘I don’t want to lose the ball’ but not with the intention to attack. I felt when I watched my players a team that felt the pressure. We were stable, we scored one goal, the first 15 minutes was good and after that we didn’t press so well.
“The second half we started better, we change the way we pressed [the United centre-halves Victor] Lindelof and [Chris] Smalling.
“We spoke at half time that we could play better and we were much better with the goal after five minutes. It is difficult, they defended so deep, they are aggressive, they follow man to man. After 2-1, we reacted well, we don’t concede chances and step by step we regained our game.”
