Sterling free to leave if he's not happy - Guardiola
Martin Macdonald
- 15 Oct 2021 15:55 BST
- 4 min read
Pep Guardiola has suggested that Raheem Sterling is free to leave Manchester City if he is unhappy with game time.
Previously a key player under the Spaniard, Sterling has found game time hard to come by in the 2021/22 campaign, with just two starts out of the opening seven Premier League matches under his belt so far.
He has made 10 appearances in all competitions, scoring one goal and recording one assist.
Sterling's minutes on the pitch have declined aver since the arrival of record signing Jack Grealish, who is usually deployed in his favoured spot on the left flank.
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"If there was the option to go somewhere else for more game time I would be open to it. As I said football is the most important thing to me," the England international said at the Financial Times Business of Sport US summit in New York.
"Challenges that I have set myself from a young age and dreams as well. As an English player all I know is the Premier League and I’ve always thought, you know, maybe one day I’d love to play abroad. See how I would come up against that challenge.
"I’m not a person that’s going to complain. I’ve not tried to make it a bigger deal than it actually is. I get on with my work. Do what I need to do. And I’m just raring to go. Playing football matches regularly. Scoring goals regularly. "
Guardiola responds to Sterling's comments
Guardiola has apparently taken umbrage to Sterling's complaints, as he has mentioned the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Joao Cancelo as two players who never comment on their game time or lack of it to him.
“I didn't know it. I didn't think the club knew," he said when asked about Sterling in a press conference on Friday.
“Raheem is our player, hopefully he will be an incredibly important player for us. I don't know if he wants to play more. Riyad [Mahrez] doesn't play and he doesn't complain, Joao [Cancelo] too."
Guardiola then said that any player, not specifically Sterling, are free to leave if they do not accept his decisions as manager.
"They have to speak on the grass, all of them, not just Raheem," he continued.
"They have to satisfied to be here. If not, they're free to take the decision that's best for themselves, for their families, for all of those who love them. Give them more time, I understand completely.
"I was a football player and all the time I wanted to play. Not just Raheem, all of them want to play 90 minutes in every game but I can't assure them of that. They have to improve on the pitch and every training session.
"Not just for Raheem, for all the players. I said many times. You have to be there and fight and be good every day. After in the transfer windows you decide, when it's finished, you have to accept my decisions, I'm the manager, I decide what's best for the team.
"I don't make decisions for the player. I'm thinking the best for the team to win games, to make happy the fans, the organisation. Be proud of what you do. It's the only situation."
Sterling has been linked with both Barcelona and Real Madrid recently, while Paris Saint-Germain are also said to be an interested party.
