How Will Manuel Pellegrini Use Raheem Sterling at Manchester City in 2015/16?
As Europe's most lucrative summer expenditure thus far, one might expect Raheem Sterling to be under more pressure than his manager to start 2015/16, but Manuel Pellegrini probably has his young star beaten.
The Chilean manager went trophy-less last season, after a domestic double in 2013/14, and has 10 months to prove his worth at Manchester City; lest the usual suspects of Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti and/or Jurgen Klopp make returning to the Etihad in 2016/17 impossible.
To keep his job and continue his project, Pellegrini cannot afford to go another season without winning silverware. Moreover, progression in the Champions League is mandatory.
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City Football Group have pumped millions into the Citizens' infrastructure and expect to bear English and European fruit.
Arguably the primary factor in Pellegrini's continued tenure will be how the aforementioned Sterling is used and the production thereof. The former Liverpool attacker was purchased on 14 July for £49 million and, whether knowingly or unknowingly, he carries Manchester City's future in his boots.
Sterling's move from Merseyside's red conglomerate was highly contentious, heavily debated and fraught with drama. While the dust is still settling on the controversial transfer, how Pellegrini and the City brass intend to use their newest attacking piece remains largely a mystery—other than the 20-year-old's handful of pre-season, tune-up matches.
In 2014/15, Pellegrini experimented with the 4-4-2. The once en-vogue formation, which was teetering on obsolete, has seen a slight resurgence since 2011/12 (Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid being the chief example). City played 21 of their 38 Premier League matches in the formation—or its derivative—last season.
Finishing in second place, eight points behind EPL winners Chelsea, it seems a likelihood Manchester's 61-year-old manager will continue flirting with the 4-4-2, which appears fantastic news for Sterling.
At Liverpool, when Brendan Rodgers elected to change formations (which seemingly happened on a fortnightly basis), Sterling was the odd-man out—not in terms of starting matches, but positionally. After his 2012 debut, the English international was seen at central attacking midfielder, winger, centre-forward and occasionally wing-back for the Anfield men.
Whether through his team-mates' injuries or Rodgers' own tactical premonitions, Sterling rarely played in the same position for sustained periods; at Manchester City—while still able to interchange in attacking areas—Sterling will benefit from stable deployment.
Not as technically gifted as David Silva or Samir Nasri, Pellegrini (while Sterling improves his on-ball quality) must take advantage of one trait which cannot necessarily be taught—speed.
Getting the Kingston-born's best will likely come through counter-attacks.
One of the quicker players in the Premier League—with or without the football—Sterling's paramount feature is the fear he places into opposing defenders once their team loses possession.
City should create plenty of chances in 2015/16 by playing solid defence, tackling and allowing their rapid winger to chase balls played down the channels.
The Citizens' ownership has handed Pellegrini a lifeline—one season to redeem a barren 2014/15.
How much leeway City Football Group are willing to give their double-winning manager can only be told by a season unfolded, but giving him large money to spend this summer bodes well for (at least) seeing out his contract.
Repaying their trust begins with getting the best out of England's best under-21 prospect.
As for the young winger himself: Sterling has reached the scene where he proves Man City's extensive £49 million outlay was not a knee-jerk purchase in search of top English talent, but rather an audacious step in the correct, youthful direction.
Liverpool fades.
The grass is cut.
Lines have been drawn.
Time for football.
*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase where not noted.
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