Sterling pays tribute to Rodgers
Raheem Sterling has praised Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers ahead of Man City's Champions League tie against Celtic on Wednesday and said that the Northern Irishman had a "massive" influence on him at Liverpool.
Raheem Sterling burst onto the scene with Liverpool in 2012 and was a regular starter under Brendan Rodgers, and the winger was a key figure in a Liverpool side that nearly won the Premier League in 2014.
The England international will come up against his former manager on Wednesday when Man City travel to Celtic in the Champions League and Sterling has a lot of time for his ex-boss.
"He was massive for me. Every manager that I’ve worked with I’ve tried to learn as much as I can and he’s one that I definitely learnt a lot off. Credit to him he was a fantastic guy," the City player told the media.
"Playing me in different positions, making me understand the roles and maturing in certain systems… he gave me a lot of confidence as well.
"He’s someone who gave me my full chance in the Premier League and gave me loads of starts and loads of confidence. It will be good to see him again and wish him well but on the day it all comes down to trying to win that football match".
It has been said that Sterling didn't have the rosiest of relationships with Rodgers, but this is something that the 21-year-old denies, as he says he spoke to him after he was sacked as manager of Liverpool.
Sterling added: "When he first moved from Liverpool I spoke to him then, and probably two or three times since then. I had to change my phone number a couple of times so I haven’t got his new number but hopefully when I see him I’ll get his new number".
As for his new manager, Pep Guardiola, Sterling says that the Catalan has simply told him to enjoy playing his football.
"He said just enjoy scoring goals, enjoy putting it in the back of the net and see it going in the net," he said.