Manchester City vs Everton: Pep Guardiola hails Raheem Sterling's response to difficult week

Pep Guardiola has made his admiration of Raheem Sterling known once more after the winger scored in Manchester City’s 3-1 victory over Everton on Saturday.

Sterling has endured a difficult week off-the-pitch after allegedly being racially abused while playing against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last week.

The allegations, which are being investigated by the Metropolitan Police, provoked a national debate about the extent of racism within football.

Sterling responded to the incident by claiming that British newspapers ‘fuel racism’ in the way they portray young black players.

Guardiola named Sterling on the City substitutes’ bench for Saturday’s win but brought the 24-year-old on in the second half and Sterling scored his side’s third goal moments later.

In his post-match press conference, Guardiola hailed Sterling’s attitude in the days since the incident at Stamford Bridge.

“I see him so calm,” he said. “He has handled in the last year many situations, a lot of rumours and not nice things about him and his family, in this case the colour of his skin.

“That’s why I admire him, it’s not easy for him, but he’s happy playing football, he’s loved by all the staff, the locker room, the players.”

Sterling’s goal – a second-half header from a Fernandinho cross – was his 10th for City of the campaign, though Guardiola believes his finishing can improve further.

“Raheem, when he was no time to think in front of the keeper it is always a goal,” he said. “The problem is when he has to think and sometimes he doesn’t score.

“The cross was incredible from Fernandinho and good finishing. It’s good to get headed goals when we’re not the tallest team.”

City’s victory also saw a return to form for Gabriel Jesus, who scored either side of half time to established a two-goal lead.

Jesus had not previously scored in the Premier League since August and, despite defending his player through the drought, Guardiola was delighted to see his barren run end.

“It’s so important for him, strikers need to score goals,” Guardiola said. “The same he has done today he has done in the last few games but the difference is he scored a goal.

“He had chances, he was in a better position to score a goal and he did it in a fantastic way, that’s why it will be good for him and for the team. We value his performance.”