City’s “Sterling” Player – Raheem

Manchester City’s 4-2 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach happened at just the right time for Manuel Pellegrini. Having gone into the game with just one win in their last 4 games, especially after their previous run was so brilliant, Pellegrini would’ve been in trouble if things did not go City’s way.

That City finished top of Group D ahead of Juventus — avoiding a group winner in February’s knockouts — is largely down to one of the club’s newer players. Of course, it was a great team performance in the second half, but there was one individual who stood out above the rest and Pellegrini has Raheem Sterling to thank for securing the “easier” draw in the next phase.

Although he didn’t do much in the 2-0 defeat to Stoke on Saturday, Sterling was key to everything the Blues did going forward and eventually ripped the Gladbach defence apart. After going ahead through David Silva, then behind before half-time, City’s one constant was the efforts of the English winger who had a number of good efforts blocked or saved, created chances for others and always kept the hosts on the front foot.

For someone who is dubbed a “poor finisher”, he’s managed eight goals in his 22 appearances for his new club. While it’s true his consistency and finishing needs work, it seems there are many who can’t get past his £49 million fee and expect him to be on a par with the best in the world instantly. Yet this ignores the work he’s actually done in Manchester since he arrived in the summer.

He had a part to play in all four goals on Tuesday night. He started off with a well-executed backheel to assist Silva’s opener and a flick to complete a one-two with Aleksandar Kolarov in the build up to the final strike where he netted himself.

Already well-ahead in his career, Sterling is a formidable figure for oppsition defenders and can cause panic when he’s in possession. He can stretch the game and make City wider or narrower depending on where the manager chooses to play him.

Many ex-Liverpool players-turned-pundits criticised the winger’s move to the Etihad, suggesting it would be better for him to continue to learn the game at Anfield rather than risk being in and out of City’s side.

But if there’s one lesson that can be taken from the Blues’ performance on Tuesday night, it’s that Sterling has been developing perfectly in Manchester and fits right in to how Pellegrini wants to play.