Man City News

Pep Guardiola criticised for ‘mistake’ that could ‘haunt’ Man City next season

|

Raheem Sterling has left Manchester City after seven years at the Etihad Stadium. The 27-year-old sealed a £45m move to Chelsea on Wednesday and will now spend the next five years at Stamford Bridge.

Paddy Kenny believes the transfer is a mistake on Pep Guardiola’s part, as he’s lost a prolific forward while strengthening a title rival. Sterling scored 131 goals with 94 assists from 337 appearances at City, so Chelsea have a player who could make them a genuine title contender next season.

Where will Manchester City finish in the Premier League this season?

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th or lower

Kenny told Football Insider: “I think it is a really shrewd move from Chelsea. He is a very experienced player and he has got better while he has been at Man City. He has turned into an all-around brilliant player.

“You know what you are going to get from him. His finishing has also improved over the last few years. It’s a great move for Chelsea and I think it’s a mistake from City.

“It could come back to haunt them if he kicks on at Chelsea and does as well there as he did at Man City.” Before joining the Londoners, Sterling was in the last year of his deal at the Etihad and was unwilling to put pen to paper on an extension, so City had little choice but to cash in rather than lose him for nothing next year.

Guardiola is taking a big risk, however, as Chelsea have strengthened many areas of the squad and are sure to improve upon last season’s third-place finish. Sterling boasts double figures for Premier League goals in each of the last five seasons too, so Chelsea have signed a reliable scorer.

To lose Sterling and Gabriel Jesus in the same transfer window is a blow for City, even if they signed Erling Haaland.

In other news, Zack Steffen spiralled in his three years at Man City

1 of 10

2012/13 season

Share this article

Sports journalist who is an avid football fan, enjoys debunking transfer rumours, loves to write pieces about players out in the cold and takes a large amount of pride getting a predicted XI 100% correct.

0 comments

  • Stanley James Duncan says:

    The assertions made are untrue. Sterling’s finishing has not ‘improved’ in recent seasons. It dropped off a cliff last season compared to his best at City.
    Strengthening Chelsea also strengthens Chelsea v Spurs, Liverpool, Arsenal and not just City.

    Sterling needs to address his ‘yips’. If he does Chelsea does well. If he doesn’t he’ll leave Chelsea at end of his second season.

  • Brian says:

    I think he’s contract was towards its end so Manchester city to sell him was not a blender for them because they got the money they wanted compare to he’s contract

  • Valentino Azzurro says:

    Do any of these so-called pundits who think flogging Raheem was a mistake watch City week-in-week out? I think a straw poll of City fans would reveal a dissatisfaction with his performance last season and cite easy sitters missed, blind alleys run up, failed one v ones on keepers and generally poor decision making. Sterling has done well for him. but to my mind there’s little doubt but that he was time-expired at City and looking for another billet, probably Madrid. They didn’t copme calling so Chelsea is a face-saver.

  • Jeremy Poynton says:

    Nonsense. Just nonsense

Comments are closed.