'He is becoming one incredible, exceptional player': Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola hails Raheem Sterling's ability to handle criticism and continued thirst for improvement

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has praised Footballer of the Year and Premier League Golden Boot contender Raheem Sterling for being able to handle the intensity of his own management methods.

Sterling has flourished in Guardiola's three years at The Etihad and started this season with a bang - scoring four goals in City's opening two league games ahead of this afternoon's trip to Bournemouth.

But it hasn't always been a serene journey for the star forward who has already won 51 England caps at the relatively tender age of 24.

Pep Guardiola has praised Raheem Sterling for handling his criticism and working on his game

Guardiola says Sterling deserves all the credit for his improvement in front of goal

Sterling has scored four goals in Manchester City's opening two Premier League games

Guardiola's driven personality has led him to regularly take Sterling aside to dish out instructions or criticisms in full public glare.

Sterling got an impromptu coaching lesson-cum-grilling from the City boss on the Wembley sidelines after they'd won the FA Cup Final in May by a record score of 6-0. He was also grabbed by his manager after the full-time whistle of last season's Manchester derby win at The Etihad and told to cut out any showboating.

'It's good when a player has an understanding what we want to do as a group. I think he has an incredible reception to our talks, like when Mikel (assistant-coach Mikel Arteta) or myself talk with him,' explained Guardiola.

'It's nice when they don't get the feeling like "Oh, why is he always pushing or criticising me". That is how he has improved.

'He's been open from the day we arrived more than three seasons ago and that is why he is becoming one incredible, exceptional player. He plays every three days, no injuries, he runs a lot, his genetics are so strong.

Guardiola says Sterling's genetics are 'so strong' and that he is becoming an 'incredible player'

'He is a better player and finisher now (than 2016) but it's all his credit and desire to be better.

'Normally for wingers to score goals is not easy because they tend to be further away from the goals. But he moves from side to side and has an incredible sense of getting into the box with the right tempo. He is fantastic at that.

'Some players play good but forget the goal is there. He always has a sense where the goal is and attacks the ball.'

Returning to Bournemouth will bring back strong memories for Sterling who scored one of the most important of his 74 goals at The Vitality Stadium.

His 97th-minute winner at the start of the 2017/18 season prevented City from dropping points for the second time in three matches.

Guardiola says Sterling has a 'sense' of when to attack the penalty area and time his runs

They went on to thrash Liverpool 5-0 in their following game and went on to collect Guardiola's first Premier League title with a record 100 points - though Sterling's day on the south coast was marred when he received a second yellow card for celebrating his goal.

'His goal was one of those moments in the beginning of the season that are important for the mood and rhythm,' recalled Guardiola.

'I remember we came from a draw with Everton, and our first season had not been good in terms of home results.

'After Bournemouth was an international break and then came Liverpool at home, you know what happens about rumours and doubts in the minds of the players, so that goal was so important definitely. Then we beat Liverpool and afterwards pap-pap-pap, we had rhythm (momentum).

'Ironically, City return to face Eddie Howe's side this time having been held at home again by Spurs. Guardiola doesn't want to put the full blame on VAR and Gabriel Jesus' late 'winner' being ruled out but declares himself happy with the form of his players.

'It was better than when we beat Chelsea 6-0 last season,' he said. 'We have won the last two titles so we are going to try and do it. If we maintain the way we are training and the competitive feeling between them, we will try to be there.'

Sterling has scored 74 goals for Manchester City since joining the club in July 2015

Guardiola has won three-in-a-row titles at both Barcelona and Bayern Munich but to do so in England during Jurgen Klopp's era at Liverpool as well as the rest of the Big Six would be an incredible achievement.

He has promised his side would be better than last year when they finished with 98 points but has not seen £52million left-back Benjamin Mendy on the pitch yet.

'If he stays fit, he will have success,' argues Guardiola, who sent the Frenchman to Barcelona to recover from his latest knee injury, having damaged his cruciate last season.

'He has special quality and doesn't feel any pain after training now, and that is good. These kinds of traumatic injuries are a bit unlucky. One after another.

'He couldn't take the rhythm for a season for even half a season. That is a concern but he's now training good,

'The people from Barcelona are telling me that he is working incredible like an animal and hopefully he can maintain that because it is not about one day or one week it is about every day doing that.'

Portuguese international full-back Joao Cancelo is in line for his City debut following a £60million move from Juventus this summer.