Raheem Sterling says Pep Guardiola made sure to hit Manchester City players in the pocket in order to inspire them to become the first Premier League champions to retain their crown in a decade.
City saw off the ongoing threat of Liverpool to win the title by a point on Sunday, becoming the first side to win it back-to-back since Manchester United made it three in a row in 2009.
Sterling's former club - Raheem Sterling says Liverpool rivalry is now THE game for Manchester City fans - pushed his current one all the way, racking up 97 points in a bid to finally end their 29-year top-flight title drought.
And the England winger says that a genius move from Guardiola at the beginning of the season ensured that the squad were in the right frame of mind to do what hadn't been done in 10 years.
Raheem Sterling: I'm no role model — but I've opened a door for work to be done
“How can no team in the last ten years not retain the title? What is it?" said Sterling during Raheem Sterling: I'm no role model — but I've opened a door for work to be done .
"It’s got to be mentality. He tried to change that, change the mentality, he brought in fines and... I don’t want to talk about it in too much detail... but fines to keep people in check to make sure we were serious and ready.
Raheem Sterling says Liverpool rivalry is now THE game for Manchester City fans
"They were just for things like being late, being late for a meeting, little things to make sure your mentality is right, you are not slipping away.
"Then we showed we were, he took the fines out. But credit to him because the standard has actually been raised this season.”
Raheem Sterling: I'm no role model — but I've opened a door for work to be done
