The torso leaned right, the feet darted left and Swansea’s Kyle Naughton still doesn’t know where Raheem Sterling went.
It’s a mystery that has lingered in less impressive ways across the past year, but finally Manchester City’s enigmatic little forward seems to have found himself again.
That much was abundantly clear in the way he tore apart Naughton for City’s third goal, but that run and finish was merely a continuation of what has been an excellent resurrection under Pep Guardiola.
From the bleakness of England’s Euro 2016 campaign, the 21-year-old is one of the main men in City’s wrecking machine. Their win over Swansea was their 10th in 10 games of the manager’s reign and Sterling’s goal in Wales was his fourth in his past four league fixtures.
He is a forward transformed from the insecurities of last season and the summer when he seemed gun-shy and unsure of what purpose he should provide for a team. A lecture from Guardiola has indicated that his role, above all else, is to seek and destroy. ‘Scoring is something I need to keep doing,’ he said. ‘What is going to make me the player I want to be is scoring more goals, being cool in front of goal.
‘The manager has told me to enjoy scoring goals and seeing the ball go into the back of the net is what I want. The manager gives everyone confidence, belief and the motivation to achieve. It has been fantastic for me working with him.’
After six games, he is scoring more goals per game, is attempting more shots, creating more goals and succeeding with more passes than in his previous two seasons.
He has also been rotated through attacking positions on the right, left and centre and been effective in each, pressing as part of Guardiola’s defensive preference, but largely showing the flair that City valued at £49million when they bought him.
Still, Guardiola regards him as a work in progress, with the viewpoint that he could yet be more efficient in front of goal. Tellingly, he added that showing the player ‘love’ has been necessary.
‘He made a fantastic goal against Swansea but I think he can improve when he is in the box, to be more decisive,’ Guardiola said. ‘Every game he has one or two or three chances and he has to focus because he has a lot of quality.
‘For players today, with the social media, what we try to make them feel is that we love them. We try are so happy about what he has done.’
Daily Mail