RAHEEM STERLING’S winner at Newcastle on Wednesday night was his 17th goal of a magnificent campaign.
That is already six strikes more than his previous season’s best tally of 11 – in his last term with Liverpool and his first at the Etihad.
Sterling, 23, said: “Playing under Pep has made me more mature and more focused.
“Before, I was rushing chances but now I’m more relaxed in the box.
“That comes with training every day, with developing as a young man, and becoming the player I know I can be.
“I’m just trying to get in the box more and time my runs better – I’m trying to be more ruthless and more clinical.
“Goals are often what you are judged on, so I said to myself that I need to get better at this – and that’s what I’m trying to do.
“I’ve probably had better seasons dribbling and stuff like that. But this is the most efficient I’ve been and that’s exactly what I want to do.
“There is no point dribbling if you are not helping the team.
“I’ve always been strong-minded and had a desire to improve and become a better player – and that hasn’t changed.”
Sterling’s first-half goal at St James’ Park came courtesy of another amazing Kevin De Bruyne assist – a team-mate he will be challenging for the player of the season honours.
And the England international admitted: “It’s a massive bonus to play with a player like that.
“When you see Kevin, David Silva or Bernardo Silva on the ball, you make the move, and they will find you.”
Sterling’s strike at Newcastle was enough to extend City’s Premier League winning run to 18 matches – and their lead at the top of the table is now a whopping 15 points.
But the Three Lions ace insists there will be no let up and he and his team-mates are as motivated as ever to keep their hot streak going.
Sterling added: “The title race is not over. We need to single-focus on our next game.
“That’s the massive mentality we have had all season – as soon as we finish one game we don’t just sit there and think about the game that has just finished.
“Now it’s on to Crystal Palace and we need to go and do the business there and get the three points.”
“Every game you want to win, and every game you can see the belief and mentality in the dressing room.
“It’s not always about how pretty you look, sometimes we have to grind out the result, and that’s what we did at Newcastle. That’s the team spirit you need.
“You are not always going to have things go your way and finish 3-0 or 4-0.”
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