Raheem Sterling: ‘My mother keeps my hat-trick match balls’
Raheem Sterling has another present for his mother after scoring a rapid hat-trick in Manchester City’s Champions League thrashing of Atalanta.
The England forward struck three times in the space of just 11 second-half minutes as City, who trailed early in the match, ran out 5-1 winners in the Group C clash at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.
It was the 24-year-old’s fifth treble for club or country, his fourth this calendar year and second this season, earning him another matchball for a growing collection.
“They are at my mum’s house in Jamaica,” he said of his previous prizes.
“I’ve put them in a little glass box and I’ve bought an extra six cases just in case I do score a hat-trick, so I can put it straight in a case and give it to her. So, I’ll give it to my mum to put away.”
Read Also: Abraham is fighting for a place, but kane and Sterling are untouchable—Southgate
Sterling’s scintillating display put the gloss on a fine comeback from City after a Sergio Aguero double had cancelled out Ruslan Malinovskyi’s penalty opener for the visitors.
The victory took City five points clear at the top of their group and within touching distance of the last 16 with three games still to play.