Pep Guardiola enjoying working with 'nice guy' Raheem Sterling

Saturday 20 August 2016 09:14, UK

Pep Guardiola says he can help "nice guy" Raheem Sterling become a consistent performer for Manchester City.

Sterling finished last season as a bit-part player under Manuel Pellegrini, and his England form at Euro 216 came in for widespread criticism.

But the winger has made a confident start to life under Guardiola, and City's new manager is excited about the £44m signing's potential.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's trip to Stoke, which is live on Sky Sports, he said: "Keep calm, it's just two games, the season is long.

"But the most important thing is the quality, and the quality is there. He showed that at Liverpool and some of the moments last season.

"He is a really good player, a fighter. He can run 90 minutes, forwards and backwards. There's a lot to improve, a lot to get better, but we are delighted to be here to help. He's a very nice guy. I like to work with people like that."

Sterling will soon be joined in Manchester by Gabriel Jesus, the £27m striker going for gold with Brazil at the Rio Olympics.

"He is little bit like Kelechi Iheanacho and Sergio Aguero," Guardiola added. "When the ball is there, it's a goal. He has the sense of goal. So, we buy goals. That's not easy today."