Pep Guardiola believes Raheem Sterling will rediscover his best form after going back to basics in recent weeks.
There had been talk of the English winger leaving the club, with the arrival of Jack Grealish and the form of the likes of Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva keeping him out of the team at the start of the season.
But Sterling has started both of City’s games since the international break, scoring against Everton and also providing the equaliser against PSG, and Guardiola hopes his form in front of goal will help him put a difficult spell behind him.
“I’m so glad for him, he’s helped us for sure. He will fight to be better and better,” Guardiola said.
“Scoring goals can give confidence for these type of guys, but he has to do better, be aggressive, go one against one, arrive in the final third. This is the first step for him to come back.
“The attitude has always been good and I’ve always said to the players, ‘Make demands of yourself but don’t put a lot of pressure on your shoulders’.
“In a career as a player, you cannot always be 10 out of 10. You have highs and lows. The important thing is not to get that low.
“Go on the pitch when you have the opportunity to play and do your best. That’s all.”
The Man City manager also pointed to the hectic schedule Sterling has faced over the last six months as a significant factor as to why he has struggled at times.
“When they do (lose form) they go back to the basics and they have to know that’s normal,” Guardiola said.
“In this crazy calendar there is no time to rest. English players went into final of the Euros and then two or three weeks later they come back and it’s the Community Shield.
“You cannot imagine how difficult that is, especially for the talented players. Every three days they have to be creative.
“I’m not going to tell Raheem he doesn’t have the quality he had in the last six years. He’s the same guy. Come back to the basics and step by step he will come back.”
