Kosovo vs England: Only way to stop Raheem Sterling is to ‘break his legs’, jokes Bernard Challandes

The returning Manchester City forward scored one and assisted two in the reverse fixture

Kosovo‘s charismatic manager Bernard Challandes joked the only way his team could stop Raheem Sterling in tonight’s Euro 2020 qualifier is by “breaking his legs”.

Sterling has returned to the matchday squad, having been dropped following his altercation with Joe Gomez, which left the defender with a scratch under his right eye – Gomez, who was booed when substituted on during England’s win against Montenegro, has since left the squad after sustaining a knee injury in training.

Kosovo’s hopes of reaching the Euro 2020 finals were shipwrecked after suffering defeat against Czech Republic, however, Challandes is still desperate to stifle the Manchester City forward, who scored one and provided two assists in the reverse fixture in September.

“If we remember the first game in England, with so much space, it’s impossible to stop him,” Challandes said. “Because what he has done in this match is 461 metres (distance covered) with high intensity.

“Only as a team we can find a not so bad solution [to stop him]. Or we break his legs, but we are too nice.”

Sterling leapt to the defence of Gomez after the Liverpool defender was booed during England’s lopsided victory at Wembley, which ensured Gareth Southgate's side of qualification for the finals next summer.

“To all the England fans, I wanted to leave things at it was but tonight I have to speak again: it was hard for me to see my team mate get booed for something that was my fault,” he wrote on Twitter.

“Joe hasn’t done anything wrong & for me to see someone who keeps his head down and work hard..especially after a difficult week for him to be booed when he came on tonight was wrong.

“I’ve taken full responsibility and accepted the consequence. I felt as though I had to say this get home safe everyone.”