Raheem Sterling's focus on FA Cup as Manchester City's success trumps personal accolades

Englishman aims to win historic trophy, which his club have lifted just five times before and he himself has 'never touched'

Manchester City players celebrate after beating Brighton 4-1 at the Amex Stadium to be crowned Premier League champions. Getty Images

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero celebrates after beating Brighton 4-1 at the Amex Stadium to be crowned Premier League champions. Getty Images

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola kisses his medal as he celebrates winning the Premier League title. Reuters

Manchester City players celebrate after beating Brighton 4-1 at the Amex Stadium to be crowned Premier League champions. EPA

Manchester City players throw manager Pep Guardiola in the air as they celebrate winning the Premier League title. Getty Images

Manchester City players celebrate after beating Brighton 4-1 at the Amex Stadium to be crowned Premier League champions. Getty Images

Manchester City's Vincent Kompany celebrates with fans after winning the Premier League title. Reuters

Manchester City players celebrate after beating Brighton 4-1 at the Amex Stadium to be crowned Premier League champions. Getty Images

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola celebrates winning the Premier League title. Reuters

Manchester City fan holds up a banner as they celebrate winning the Premier League title. Reuters

Manchester City fan holds up a banner as they celebrate winning the Premier League title. Reuters

Manchester City's Vincent Kompany celebrates winning the Premier League title. Reuters

Manchester City's Bernardo Silva in action with Brighton's Bernardo. Reuters

Brighton's Glenn Murray heads in a corner to give his side the lead against Manchester City. Reuters

Brighton's Glenn Murray heads in a corner to give his side the lead against Manchester City. Reuters

Brighton's Anthony Knockaert celebrates Glenn Murray's opening goal against Manchester City. Reuters

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero during the match. Reuters

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero equalises against Brighton. Reuters

Aymeric Laporte's header gave Manchester City a 2-1 lead. Reuters

Aymeric Laporte's header gave Manchester City a 2-1 lead. Reuters

Aymeric Laporte's header gave Manchester City a 2-1 lead. Reuters

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looks on. Reuters

Manchester City's Kyle Walker, Vincent Kompany, Aymeric Laporte, Sergio Aguero and Bernardo Silva form a wall to defend a free kick taken by Brighton's Lewis Dunk. Reuters

Manchester City's Ederson saves a shot from Brighton's Lewis Dunk. Reuters

Manchester City's Bernardo Silva in action with Brighton's Yves Bissouma. Reuters

Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City scores to make it 3-1. EPA

Ilkay Gundogan of Manchester City celebrates after scoring his team's fourth goal. EPA

Raheem Sterling is wary of a "dangerous" Watford side as Manchester City look to win their first FA Cup title in eight years on Sunday.

The striker has had a hugely successful season, scoring 17 goals and 10 assists to lead City to their second straight Premier League title. Having already won the League Cup this season, the Abu Dhabi-backed side are on the cusp of an unprecedented domestic treble.

Sterling, though, is desperate to lift a trophy that has plenty history but one his club have won only five times before and one he himself has "never touched".

“It’s a massive trophy in this country, a big history and it’s one that we will try our best to win," he said. "To be in the final, that’s massive and people might say it’s just another cup, but for us to be in the final is a massive achievement.

"There’s been many a year we have tried, and we’ve not been able to get there and this year we’ve got there. We just need to be positive going into it and try to win it. It’s a beautiful trophy and it’s a trophy that I’ve never touched and hopefully I can walk up those stairs and get my hands on it."

City head into Sunday's final as heavy favourites against a Watford side that finished 11th in the league and a whopping 48 points behind Pep Guardiola's champions. They also twice defeated Watford in the league this season, winning 2-1 away and 3-1 at home. Watford lost their only cup final appearance, in 1984 against Everton.

Yet, Sterling has little doubt of the challenge the Hornets will pose in a one-off championship match.

“They’re going to be dangerous for sure and we’ve played against them countless amount of times and they’ve shown that they’ve got a good team," he said. "They’re defensively strong and have good attacking players and players that can hurt you. We know exactly what they’re like and we’ve got to be ready and up for it on the day.”

Sterling was narrowly pipped by Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk to the PFA Player of the Year award last month, although he was named as the Young Player of the Year. However, the 24-year-old showed his humble side by crediting his team's remarkable season for his personal success in 2018/19.

“It’s a fantastic feeling for people to look at you in that way and think about you in that way," he said. "These things always come when your team is doing well not only when you’re doing good performances. If your team is doing well and you’re helping your team do well, that’s when things like this happen."

Sterling insisted winning the Premier League means more to him than personal awards.

"Those are lovely personal accolades but the most important thing as a player is to win the trophy and the team trophies, because that’s what gets you in contention for the personal accolades,” he pointed out.

The Englishman also paid tribute to Guardiola for helping raise the level of a team that seem to have set the standard for their rivals, having scored a jaw-dropping 95 times in the league this season. They scored a record 106 goals in 2017/18.

“He’s phenomenal, not only with me but with every player in the team," Sterling said of Guardiola. "He gives everyone opportunities, he gives people chances and it’s down to you to repay that faith.

"The manager gives his all, he comes in every day and wants the best, not only from himself but from everyone else. Everyone tries to give their best and that’s the best environment you can be in is to have a team full on winners.”