Raheem Sterling has an absolutely terrible record when it comes to penalties.
Within the clutch of online critics saying Sterling should have been among England’s spot-kick takers as they suffered Euro 2020 final heartache against Italy, you wouldn’t have found too many Manchester City fans.
Heading into Saturday’s Premier League game against Wolves, Sterling had scored two and missed three in his career for club and country, not including similarly mixed returns in shoot-outs.
There was a kick arrowed into the top corner to secure the Carabao Cup at Chelsea’s expense in 2019 - an unlikely conclusion to the competition given Sterling also sent a botched Panenka sailing over at Leicester City in the quarter-finals.
Against Wolves in the 2019/20 season, Sterling had a penalty saved, got to retake it for encroachment and then had it saved again before putting away the rebound.
Despite all that, with a dog of a game locked at 0-0 midway through the second half, he stepped up against the same opponents as a man on a mission.
“It’s something I planned to do last season, so I was really disappointed I didn’t do it last season,” Sterling told BT Sport of his quest to reach 100 Premier League goals before the game, having moved to 99 at Watford last time out.
“Against Watford, you can probably see I shot more than I ever had before trying to get to the 100.
“[Wolves] needs to be the game [where I get to 100].”
After talk like that, however much Pep Guardiola or the City faithful might have wanted him to, Sterling could hardly leave the job to anyone else.
A battle of wits ensued and Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa blinked first, edging to his right and allowing Sterling to plonk a kick down the middle of the goal before tearing away in ecstatic celebration.
“Our best taker, by far is Riyad [Mahrez], he has shown under pressure the quality that he has. He was not on the pitch, [Ilkay] Gundogan is another one but he is struggling with his back,” Guardiola told reporters afterwards.
“In that moment they choose. Bernardo [Silva] is a good taker, Rodri could do it but Raheem showed the personality to take it and score a goal.
“These are the values I appreciate. Even the guys missing situations taking responsibility to do it and this is so important."
This was also a theme hit upon during BT’s post-match analysis by Rio Ferdinand. For all that Sterling might not be as sure-footed as other elite attackers in clutch moments, there is one trait where it feels like he is pretty much unrivalled in modern football.
"The resilience because he’s had doubters at times,” Ferdinand said. “He's not long got back into the team after time out and his record stands up - one in three throughout his Premier League career, 100 goals. It’s phenomenal in what he’s done.”
Sterling now has five in seven appearances, the sort of streak that seemed unimaginable even a few weeks ago as his prolonged slump in City colours continued.
But even when others have stopped backing Raheem, he will never stop backing himself. Remember when all and sundry demanded he be dropped by England before Euro 2020, only for him to star as the Three Lions’ best player in the tournament?
“Even before the goal he was the only player really who looked like doing something, making runs in behind,” Ferdinand continued, explaining how Sterling is a wretched proposition for opponents, irrespective of his form in front of goal.
“His aggressive runs in behind frighten defenders… he’s the one who wants to unlock it. He asked defenders all game ‘will you stay with me? Will you defend?’.
“That’s a nightmare for a defender but that takes intensity and a mindset. I love him. I can talk about him as a footballer all day long."
Sterling now has a couple of Ferdinand’s former teammates in his sights.
His equaliser in the recent 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain made him the joint third-highest scoring Englishman in Champions League history alongside Frank Lampard on 23 goals.
Paul Scholes (24) and Wayne Rooney (30) are the only players ahead of him and Sterling will find out the next obstacle on his record hunt when City learn their last-16 opponents in Monday’s draw.
“In the Champions League that’s definitely a target of mine, to become the highest-scoring English player," he said. "That’s for sure, I’m not going to hide. That’d be a good achievement as well.”
Given the resilience that has seen the 26-year-old overcome so much on and off the field, prevailing time and again, it would be foolish to bet against him.
When do you expect Raheem Sterling to break Wayne Rooney's Champions League record? Follow our City Is Ours editor Dom Farrell on Twitter to get involved in the discussion and give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
