MAN CITY 5, ATALANTA BC 1
Pep Guardiola saluted Raheem Sterling whose 11-minute hat-trick illuminated Manchester City’s comprehensive Champions League victory against top Italian team Atalanta.
City’s manager described him as an “extraordinary player” adding all the credit for his outstanding displays was down to him.
“I think he has the desire to do better,” explained Guardiola when asked whether Sterling can improve.
Guardiola added such is Sterling’s physique he could play another game the next day
The City striker’s second-half treble sealed a win which maintained City’s 100 per cent record in group C.
And with three wins out of three, City are all but through to the knockout phase having played only half their group games.
Embed from Getty ImagesGuardiola was delighted with his side’s attacking display describing Sterling and Aguero as “good” against a leading Italian side.
“They finished third In Serie A last season, are currently third and a top team as we saw in the first half. That is why we are satisfied. One more win and we are in the next stage,” he said.
Guardiola added teenager Phil Foden “will learn” for his sending off following two bookings in quick succession.
He is also hoping the hamstring injury sustained by Portuguese international Rodri is not too serious.
Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini was hugely impressed with City describing them as the best team in Europe in current form.
He expects them to be challenging the likes of Juventus at the end of the season to become Champions League winners.
City made four changes from the side that won at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Youngster Foden was handed his second start of the season while there were recalls for Aguero, Riyad Mahrez and Kyle Walker.
It was a makeshift centre-back pairing of midfielders Fernandinho and Rodri, though John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi were fit enough to be on the bench.
The players to lose out were the two Silvas, Gabriel Jesus and Joao Cancelo.
The one familiar name in the Italian side was former Middlesbrough midfielder Marten de Roon.
It was clear from the start Atalanta would be a threat as they ought to have taken a 12th minute when Timothy Castagne planted a free header over the bar after Robin Gosens broke clear on the left.
That was followed by Josip Ilicic forcing a straightforward diving save from Ederson.
It just wasn’t happening for City, underlined by Sterling crossing behind Aguero who was free in front of goal.
Aguero had three chances in as many minutes, seeing a shot deflected inches wide and blazing over when he ought to have hit the target.
It was no surprise when Atalanta took a 28th minute lead through a Rusian Malinovskyi penalty after the dangerous Ilicic was fouled by Fernandinho who caught his opponent with a trailing leg.
City were level within six minutes when Aguero finally hit the target, ghosting in-between two defenders to slot home a Sterling cross from six yards.
The turnaround was completed when City took the lead in the 38th minute through an Aguero penalty which was awarded for Andrea Masiello’s trip on Sterling. It was his 10th goal of the season in 10 City appearances.
City’s injury woes continued six minutes before the break when he pulled up with a hamstring strain and he was replaced by John Stones.
City might have added a third goal shortly before the break when Walker’s drive was well kept out by keeper Pierluigi Gollini and also deny Ilkay Gundogan.
The second half proved far easier than the opening period as City assumed total control.
De Bruyne was denied by Gollini before Sterling added City’s third goal in the 58th minute.
It came from De Bruyne’s break on the right and Foden helped on his cross to Sterling who fired into the roof of the net from six yards.
Three soon became four when Sterling raced on to Gundogan’s through ball and cut in from the left before rifling home a shot.
Sterling completed an 11-minute hat-trick when he latched on to Mahrez’s pass and beat Gollini, slotting the ball past the advancing goalkeeper. It was his 12th goal of the season.
City made their final two changes in quick succession as De Bruyne and Mendy were replaced by Otamendi and Cancelo.
Sterling ought to have scored a fourth goal in 17 minutes when he was put clean through, but rolled his shot wide.
City were reduced to 10 men in the 83rd minute when Foden was sent off after collecting two yellow cards in the space of seven minutes, the second a needless shirt pull on de Roon.
Surprisingly the 10 men finished the stronger and they were twice denied a second goal in stoppage time by smart stops from Ederson though, by then, City had long been home and dry.