Sterling compares Kevin de Bruyne's impact to Luis Suarez

Alam Khan - Reporter 04:01 03/12/2015
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  • Fine partnership: De Bruyne and Sterling.

    Raheem Sterling says magical Manchester City team-mate Kevin De Bruyne is lighting up the Premier League just like Luis Suarez did.

    After his brace and part in Wilfried Bony’s opener as the Etihad outfit beat Hull 4-1 to reach the League Cup semi-finals, the Belgian now has nine goals and as many assists in just 15 starts for the club.

    It has been a devastating impact from De Bruyne since his move from Wolfsburg, and already seen him become a leading contender for the Footballer of the Year award, along with Leicester goal machine Jamie Vardy.

    That was a prize Suarez won in 2014 before his transfer to Barcelona from Liverpool. And Sterling says the dazzling De Bruyne, 24, has the same class as his former Anfield team-mate as he said: “Yes, most definitely. Every top team needs a player who scores and assists goals so regularly like Kevin does. He’s a top player.

    “He pops up when it’s most important – that’s what big players do and we’re happy to have him at this football club.

    “With Suarez, you knew once he got in and around the box, you knew what he was capable of doing. Usually it ended with a goal. It’s the same with Kevin, and he looks for other players too. Look at the assists he’s got already and he’s got goals in him regularly as well.

    “That’s great for us to have, every team needs a player like that.”

    De Bruyne’s match-winning displays are a far cry from when he was last in English football three years ago and struggled to get a start at Chelsea.

    And Sterling, 20, believes he can learn from the ginger magician as he added: “He’s someone I work with every day and someone I get on really well with.

    “We arrived in the same summer and it’s so good to have someone like that in the squad. He’s a funny guy, quiet, gets on with everyone in the team and a great player.

    “I didn’t see him much at Chelsea to be honest. Not many of us did. But if you saw him in Germany, the number of goals he was involved in, it was obvious he had quality.

    “It’s always a test for players to come to England, play regularly and test themselves, but that’s what he’s done. Credit to him, he’s been incredible.”

    Sterling came off the bench to set up a strike for Kelechi Iheanacho and feels he is improving with every game and under no pressure as he eyes success with City and also England at Euro 2016.

    “Not at all, I feel as relaxed as I’ve ever been,” he added. “I’m happy to be here and try to keep working and hopefully try to achieve something at the end of the season.

    “Of course [I want to win trophies], but now it’s time to look at the Premier League games we’ve got coming up. We’ll try to get through this busy period, but when the [League Cup] semi-finals do come we’ll be ready for it.

    “This is a great team, great players for this club. It’s a team where you can switch virtually the whole 11 players and it would still be a top team.

    “I’m happy to be in this team and working with players like this. It can only develop my game. Hopefully in the future I can learn even more from them.

    “As long as I’m contributing to the team, which I think I am, that’s the most important thing. I might not be a nine or 10 out of 10 every game but as long as I’m helping the team win, that’s the most important thing. I feel like I’m doing well.”

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