Manchester City: Preseason squad rankings

9. Raheem Sterling

At this time last year Sterling was looked to be a top player at his new club after a £50million move from Liverpool. The young attacker played like he was much older and anyone moved for that number damn well better be a top player.

Sterling wasn’t a bust in his first season but he wasn’t as fantastic as predicted. He made 23 starts in the league with a further eight appearances off the bench, scoring six goals and setting up a pair.

In his last two seasons at Liverpool, he scored nine goals in 2013/14 with five assists then seven goals and seven assists in 2014/15.

Sterling did play more minutes in a Liverpool team that relied more heavily upon him than City did, but still. His play was good enough, certainly nowhere near the disappointment of Memphis Depay and Christian Benteke, but he didn’t take the step up in quality that he seemed primed to.

Next season his game may not mesh great with Guardiolan ideals. He doesn’t excel at pass and move and pass and move and intelligent play, because his strengths lie in his pace and dribbling ability.

City will still need that to break down defenses at times and play on the counter, but there’s a chance that he’ll stutter on confidence being asked to play a completely different way. Next season is important for Sterling to reestablish himself as a top player, especially after a particularly poor Euro campaign.

Being number nine here feels about right, he’s still an important player at the club but he shouldn’t be looked at for inspiration on a game-to-game basis.

Next: 8. Fernandinho