MANCHESTER -- Pep Guardiola says Raheem Sterling must not get carried away after his impressive start to the season at Manchester City.
The England forward has starred in City's opening two games of the season -- winning a penalty in each of the wins over Sunderland and Steaua Bucharest and setting up two assists in the 5-0 Champions League victory in Romania.
Sterling looks to have his confidence back after a tough 2016 that saw him lose his place in the City side and then endure a miserable time at the European Championship.
Guardiola has been impressed by the early form of the 21-year-old but insists he must keep on working to improve further.
"Keep calm, it's just two games. The season is long," Guardiola told a news conference.
"I spoke with him the same way I spoke with the rest of the other players, to say what we are looking for -- be courageous.
"At this part of the season, 1 v 1, 2 v 1, it doesn't matter if you lose the ball -- we are there to sustain you and just play. The most important thing is the quality, and the quality is there.
"He showed at Liverpool, and some of the moments last season, just play, the people who have the quality to dribble has to dribble. The people who have the quality to be smart with the pass has to do that.
"I like the wingers. I love to play with wingers, and they play to go, left, right, right, left. Take a risk, I have to recognise that."
Sterling had a difficult time at Euro 2016 when he was criticised by the media and fans for his performances as England crashed out in the round of 16 to Iceland.
Guardiola called him while he was in France to offer his support and insist he had a big future at the Etihad.
He also revealed that he had spoken to City's Head of Coaching, Rodolfo Borrell, who had worked with Sterling at Liverpool and he was full of praise for the winger.
"I spoke with Rod -- he was his trainer with Liverpool in the Academy. I spoke with him during the summer time. He told me he is a really good player, a fighter," Guardiola added.
"He can run for 90 minutes, front and backwards. He's a young player, there's a lot to improve, a lot to get better.
"He has to challenge [himself] to improve and get [to be] a better player. We are delighted to be here to help him, after all, he's a very nice guy and I like to work with people like that."