'Extraordinary' Raheem Sterling praised by Pep Guardiola after hat-trick in Manchester City's 5-1 win over Atalanta
Pep Guardiola praised the "extraordinary" Raheem Sterling after his 11-minute second-half hat-trick in Manchester City's 5-1 Champions League thrashing of Atalanta.
Sterling's scintillating performance capped a fine comeback after two Sergio Aguero goals had cancelled out Ruslan Malinovskyi's penalty opener at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.
City's victory maintained their 100 per cent record in the competition and put them within touching distance of the last 16 as they moved five points clear at the top of Group C.
There were downsides with Phil Foden sent off late on and Rodri hobbling off injured, but Sterling grabbed the headlines.
🔥🎩 Raheem Sterling scores his first #UCL hat-trick in just 11 second-half minutes!!
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) October 22, 2019
⚽️ 58'
⚽️ 64'
⚽️ 69'#MCFC #MCIATA pic.twitter.com/CWSWzNinc2
Twelve goals in 11 Manchester City games this season have Sterling comfortably on course for a third successive 20-goal season for the club, and possibly far more.
After joining the club in 2015, he scored 11 goals in his first season and then 10 in his first playing under Guardiola, whose influence on the England forward then became clear for all to see.
Having spent a year under the Spaniard's tutelage, Sterling blossomed to score 23 goals in all competitions in 2017-18 and 25 last campaign despite rarely playing as an out-and-out striker.
He has now scored five career hat-tricks for both club and country but four of those have come in his last 35 games since March.
⚽️ Raheem Sterling has taken the match ball home after four of his last 35 games since March! #MCFC #MCIATA pic.twitter.com/426nLp1onn
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) October 22, 2019
Guardiola said: "All the credit is for him. He's a guy whose physicality is incredible, he is so strong.
"A day after a game, he could play another game. His regeneration is incredible.
"He can play both sides, he's fast and defensively he helps us a lot. He is an extraordinary player."
City ease past Atalanta
City made a slow start and were punished when Malinovskyi struck after Fernandinho brought down Josep Ilicic.
City's response was emphatic with Sterling teeing up Aguero for his first and winning the penalty for his second.
He then produced a virtuoso display in the second half and should have had a fourth goal when he rolled a shot wide late on.
Foden also had a fine game until he was booked twice in the space of seven minutes late in the second half.
Guardiola said: "For Phil what is important is not the red card but how he played. He played a high level, he is an incredible player."
City will now look to secure their place in the knockout stages when they face Atalanta again at the San Siro in Milan in a fortnight.
Guardiola said: "It was a really tough game against a really tough opponent. That is why I am so satisfied with the result.
"With nine points we need one more (win) to be in the next stage."
Guardiola added that Rodri will be assessed on Wednesday but could be out between 10 days and a month with a hamstring injury.
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