Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling given celebration instructions if they score on return to former club Man City

MAURICIO POCHETTINO has told Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling to put aside any previous love for Manchester City.

The Chelsea pair return to the Etihad Stadium this afternoon after both spending a number of years with the Cityzens.

Sterling spent seven years in Manchester between 2015 and 2022 while Palmer is an academy graduate of the Treble winners, but left in the summer in pursuit of regular football.

Poch has made it clear that he thinks players should be fighting for the badge on the front of their shirt right now, not the one they once represented.

The Chelsea boss has asked his two former City stars to celebrate if they manage to score in this evening's heavyweight clash.

He said: "'If they celebrate, it's football, If they don't celebrate and want to show respect, OK, but I think when you score a goal you need to celebrate.

"You kill your former club and after you say 'sorry'. When you play for different shirts and badges and clubs, you cannot stop your feelings.

"When you score, it's the most beautiful feeling in your body and you cannot go, 'Argh, no, I don't want to celebrate.' You need to. You are now playing for another team.

"You showed respect when you were there and you gave everything to the club and the badge and the people.

"But now you defend another shirt, you need to celebrate because you are part of another history."

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Declan Rice refused to reel off in celebration after scoring a wonder goal for Arsenal against former employers West Ham in their 6-0 thumping of the Hammers last weekend.

Frank Lampard memorably opted not to celebrate when he scored against Chelsea for Man City.

Palmer and Sterling will first have to get the better of the City defence before they can celebrate - a task that many teams have struggled to pull off this term.

Only Arsenal have conceded less goals in the Premier League this season than Pep Guardiola's side.

But the Spanish tactician may be concerned that if anyone is to get the better of his back line it will be Palmer.

The 21-year-old has managed an impressive 10 goals and six assists in the league this season.

And Guardiola was forced to admit that it was his mistake to let the Englishman go in the summer after watching him kick into form or Chelsea.

He said: "After two or three seasons he wanted more minutes than the last season. I understand completely.

"If Palmer had the minutes I gave to Phil [Foden] from the beginning, Cole Palmer would be here - but I didn't give them to him. That is my responsibility.

"Why? Because of Bernardo [Silva], Riyad [Mahrez], Phil. In that moment, I chose the other ones."

Both Palmer and Sterling netted against City in the enthralling 4-4 draw that took place in the reverse fixture last November.