Raheem Sterling starts for Manchester City against Chelsea in Champions League final
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ByEurosport
Updated 29/05/2021 at 18:35 GMT
The 26-year-old starts for the Premier League champions against Chelsea in Porto as Pep Guardiola attempts to guide the Etihad Stadium club to their first Champions League title. Oleksandr Zinchenko and Phil Foden are also in from the start. There is, however, no sign of Fernandinho or Rodri in the Manchester City XI.
Raheem Sterling von Manchester City
Image credit: Getty Images
Raheem Sterling has been selected to start for Manchester City in their Champions League final clash against Chelsea in Porto.
While the 26-year-old has made 48 appearances for City in all competitions this season, he has been a peripheral figure at times and played just eight minutes over the two legs of the Champions League semi-final win over Paris Saint-Germain.
However, Sterling will start against Chelsea with Guardiola also handing a place in the XI to Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back and Phil Foden in attack.
Ilkay Gundogan has recovered from a knock suffered in training to make the Manchester City starting line-up. There is, however, no place for Fernandinho or Rodri.
"No, absolutely not," Guardiola told BT Sport when asked if Sterling is a "wildcard" pick.
They play a system five at the back, we need specific players and in that area and we decide for Raheem.
Sterling’s future at the Etihad Stadium is far from certain with the winger’s Manchester City set to expire in the summer of 2023.
Recent reports claim talks between Sterling and City have been put on hold with the 26-year-old reportedly demanding similar contract terms to those recently offered to Kevin de Bruyne.
N'Golo Kante and Edouard Mendy both start for Chelsea after passing late fitness tests while Kai Havertz has been picked to start in attack by manager Thomas Tuchel.
Manchester City are seeking their first Champions League title in Porto while Chelsea are aiming to be crowned European champions for the second time in their history after their triumph in Munich back in 2012.
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