Sterling: City best still to come

Raheem Sterling insists his best is yet to come in a Manchester City shirt, and is backing Pep Guardiola to be the man to bring it out of him.

The 21-year-old has been in impressive form this season, already finding the net five times as he looks to replicate the form that saw him sign for £44m from Liverpool, in 2015.

But it’s the quality of Sterling’s performances that have been the standout draw this term, one of City’s most consistent players, with his absence felt in the Citizens’ defeat to Chelsea on Saturday.

And Sterling – who publicly had a far from perfect relationship during his time with Brendan Rodgers at Anfield – believes he has more to bring to the Etihad, with his bond with the Spanish manager a key part in his development.

( JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images)

“You’ve not seen the best of me yet. I’m getting there but there’s a lot more to come. I feel more free but there’s a lot more to come, definitely,” he said.

“Enjoying your football makes you more confident. I’m taking risks and I know what I can do. My confidence is getting better and better and it’s making me more quick-thinking. The longer this goes on the better it will get.

“He (Guardiola) gives me freedom. I’m free on the pitch to express myself and to try to create and score goals for my team. He makes sure you’re working hard, enjoying your football and that’s the most important thing.

“I have that excitement, I’m really enjoying fighting teams at the top and we’re going to fight to be at the top at the end of the season.

“Being a part of that is great but we have to get through these next few games, and try to do our best to get three points.”