Pep Guardiola has sent a message to Raheem Sterling ahead of Manchester City’s Carabao Cup tie against Chelsea.
The two sides are set to face each other in the third round of the domestic competition on Wednesday evening.
This means Sterling will be back in action versus his former team, and Guardiola hopes the attacker will get a warm welcome at the Etihad Stadium.
“I always like the clubs when they welcome the guys who have been here many years and have been a key figure and had an important role in our team in all these years,” the manager said, via City Xtra.
“Maybe you forget what happened in the last month, that is not the reality of what happened over a period of six, seven years when he was at Man City. He deserves it of course and he’s more than welcome [back].”
Guardiola added: “When the game starts, we want to beat them, but of course he has to get a good reception. Everyone in England appreciates that.”