Guardiola to treat Sterling like he treated Iheanacho last season

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has told Raheem Sterling he will have a “problem” with him this season, unless he accepts being a regular substitute just as he told Iheanacho last season following Jesus’ arrival.

The Spaniard says his squad will have to get used to his rotation policy this campaign, because of a wealth of midfield talent.

Sterling only played for 11 minutes on Saturday, as City began their season with a 2-0 win at newly-promoted Brighton.

Guardiola said: “Our midfield positions are ‘Phwoar!’ Really good. We have Fernandinho, Gundogan is coming back, with Kevin (De Bruyne), with Silva, with Raz (Sterling), who can play in that position. Phil Foden, who was outstanding in pre-season.

“They all have such a lot of quality. I like players when they have the ball, they don’t lose the ball. I love that. And they keep it, they keep it well.

“All of them are going to play. Last season, I rotated the team a lot and I will do that again. They will all be involved. After that it depends on them and if they accept my decision or not. If they don’t accept it, it will be their problem not mine.

“In the line-up, he (Sterling) deserved to play. Always when someone deserves to play, when someone special plays good, I would like to be generous with the guys who train well.

“But he knows it’s the first game, there’s a lot of games and he knows he has the qualities to help us a lot in those small spaces, in one-against-one, against central defenders, to create chances for other players.

“That will be so important.”