Raheem Sterling fired up by Pep Guardiola’s pursuit of perfection

You do not win what Pep Guardiola has won in his career without pushing for perfection.

It explains why after Saturday’s victory over Watford, which kept up Manchester City’s ruthless pursuit of back-to-back titles, their manager focused on Raheem Sterling’s first-half display, not his second-half showing in which he scored a hat-trick.

Ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 second leg with Schalke, a tie City lead 3-2, Guardiola was explaining why.

‘He didn’t follow his full back two times — he has to follow him,’ Guardiola said. ‘He lost two or three balls when he has to avoid it, because he conceded the counter-attacks. Many simple things.

‘Of course, I’m so glad what he has done in terms of scoring three goals. It’s perfect, I’d like to play that first half he played and then score three goals! I’d be the happiest man in the world.

‘It’s good for me to feel he can do better. The first half was not the best performance Raheem has done this season, and that’s why I told him, that’s why we worked on that.’

Guardiola’s pursuit of perfection is pushing Sterling to improve. And Sterling buys into it. He has a thirst to better himself.

He is focused on the details that have led to his recent scoring streak. He is fast becoming the first name on Guardiola’s team sheet. He will lead the charge against Schalke – but it is not down to chance. 

Pep Guardiola helped Sterling develop, and now he’s one of the first names on the team sheet

There is the huge gym installed on the ground floor of his Cheshire home, the chef he has employed for two years, specialising in Jamaican cuisine, the mini football pitch in his back garden, the obsession with yoga.

Then there’s the treatment by City’s masseurs long after training has finished, the hours spent practising extra shooting or enhancing his fitness. This is every day. This is complete and utter dedication to becoming the best he can be. 

City have seen workaholic Sterling flourish, something Guardiola foresaw when sanctioning his £49million signing a year before replacing Manuel Pellegrini.

Guardiola bristled on Monday when asked about Sterling’s improvement, believing the question invited him to massage his own ego.

‘All the credit is for him,’ the City manager insisted. ‘We overestimate what the managers have done. The players and their performances depend on themselves.’

Sterling, for his part, knows he is not yet the finished article, but he must be pretty damn close. Only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has bettered his goal involvement (33 goals, 20 assists) since the beginning of last season.

And 14 of his 15 Premier League goals this term have come inside the box — a steadiness, timing of run and composure honed during extra sessions with Mikel Arteta. The 24-year-old now owns that ‘killer’ instinct Guardiola so often references.

Sterling is also a man for self-reflection and friends talk about mentality and state of mind being his strongest assets. They probably have to be, given his upbringing and the sort of vitriol he has endured during his short career.

The social responsibility he feels may have even heightened his displays and consistency.

Sterling bagged a hat-trick against Watford and will face Schalke on Tuesday afternoon

Sterling thrives upon being a role model to the likes of Jadon Sancho and little-known Reims forward Arber Zeneli. When Sterling sent Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood an encouraging congratulatory text message after breaking into the first team, the teenager’s reply included the word ‘idol’. He has a real effect on some of his peers.

A lot of that comes from setting an example. Sterling has made it a priority not to eat out regularly and ventures into restaurants only occasionally when on ‘date nights’ with fiancee Paige Milian.

All this is in pursuit of team and personal silverware. Sterling must be a frontrunner for PFA Player of the Year but is ultimately targeting bigger prizes. There is a Ballon d’Or bonus in his new contract. That is the trophy he really wants to lift one day.

To do that Sterling probably has to win the Champions League, and City should go one step closer on Tuesday night with their main man in such fine form.