Manuel Pellegrini and Joe Hart warn Sterling about reception
Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling has been advised to drown-out the hate he will receive from Liverpool fans during this evening’s game.
Liverpool travel to the Etihad Stadium and they’re expected to give a tough reception to old-boy Sterling, who left the club in the summer after a controversial transfer saga.
City splashed out £50million on the England international, and Pellegrini has urged him to try and block out the away supporters.
Pellegrini Discusses Sterling
“One of the most important things in important games is to have a cold mind,” he said.
“Maybe a hot heart but a cold mind because you cannot afford to make mistakes.
“All the boos and the different things from the fans are off of the pitch.
“The important thing is what happens between the players on the pitch. There is a lot of intensity in these games.
“We know we are playing for very important points so any mistake could result in an unnecessary yellow card or a penalty.”
Hart Backs Sterling
As well as Pellegrini, City goalkeeper Hart has backed Sterling to have the last laugh.
“He’s a very, very laid back guy and a great addition to our squad,” said Hart. “He takes everything in his stride, I’m a big fan of his and will back him all the way. He’s the same guy whether he’s getting pounded in the press or praised in the press.
“The whole thing with Raheem has gone now. He got a few boos in pre-season around the world – Liverpool have got a big fan base – but they have got other things to worry about now.
“He has added a new dimension, a lot of speed, a lot of quality. He has scored a lot of goals for us and assists – he has added everything I expected from him.
“The way we play really suits Raheem. He has some really good players around him. He’s a great person, he’s a good pro and he’s still a young guy. We would have given him a lot more breathing room than he has needed.”
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt
