Raheem Sterling says new work ethic behind improved Manchester City form

Raheem Sterling has stated that before the season started he promised to
work harder than ever at Manchester City.
The forward has begun impressively under the current manager Pep
Guardiola and scored twice in Sunday's 3-1 victory over West Ham.
Sterling pointed to the promise he made as a factor in his form and said
that last term's uneven campaign helped the improvement.
"Every day I'm learning," he said. "It's something that I will definitely
take into every season with me, to remember that sort of stuff and just to
move forward from it. I just made a promise, something that I said to
myself, that when I come back at the start of this season I am going to
work hard and try to be as consistent as I can."
Sterling has started four of City's five wins, being stood down only for
the Champions League knockout round second leg against Steaua
Bucharest, which was effectively a dead-rubber.
"I'm enjoying my football and I am enjoying winning games and I am
working hard to continue doing that," he added. "This is the season you
will see me working my hardest, that's for sure. I didn't come into the
season thinking: 'I want to show everyone.' But just to concentrate on
my football, that's the most important thing. People will talk, but the
most important thing for me was to come in and do well under the new
manager and impress here. I knew if I kept working hard I would get my
chances."
Guardiola called Sterling to offer support
when the forward was struggling with
England at the Euro 2016. "It was a big
lift," Sterling said. "The manager's been in
the game a long time, won stuff, worked
with young players, worked with great
players and he knows how to get the best
out of his players. He's been a massive help. Not just for me, but the
other players as well – the whole team.
"It's good to have a manager that not just talks to me but makes the
whole team feel really welcome, makes everyone feel they are all one,
whether you are starting or not. Everyone's hungry, everyone's ready to
run for him and play for him."
Of Guardiola's drive for perfection, he said: "It's a challenge. He puts his
system into play, likes a certain way to play and when everyone is
working hard together it's a plus and you get the rewards for it. The
manager's got his style and obviously coached Barcelona and at times
you can see that. It's exciting – some things we need to work on, but as
the season goes on we will just get better and better.
"He will bring the best out of the whole team, not just me. He will
definitely push everyone to do better. We are hungry, ready and pushing
to win the games."