Chelsea news: Sterling discusses his new position under Potter as system experiments and a slump in performance coincide.
Since switching to the wingback position for Chelsea, Raheem Sterling has had difficulty.
After a number of Graham Potter’s attempts, Raheem Sterling has acknowledged that he doesn’t believe he is being utilized in his optimum capacity.
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The £45 million summer acquisition was one of Thomas Tuchel’s “statement buys” and has adapted well to life at Chelsea despite a turbulent first month under the German coach. Sterling was the most reliable of all the attacking options, scoring three goals in the first six league games.
Since then, Sterling has only added one more goal to his total and has gone nine games without scoring while playing for Potter. The England star responded favorably to the new boss in his debut game, a 1-1 draw with RB Salzburg in which he substituted as a wingback, but he has since struggled to carry over the same danger.
The only consolation for Potter is that Mason Mount and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have stepped up to the plate, but the early optimism has been dampened by two draws against Brentford and Manchester United, followed by the 4-1 loss away to Brighton.
Pat Nevin, a former Chelsea winger, criticized Sterling for his performance against the Seagulls and said that on his current form, he shouldn’t be considered for an England position either. Sterling had one of his worst performances in a blue shirt thus far.
Due to Reece James‘ absence, Potter has used Sterling in a new position, which has somewhat coincided with the player’s decline. However, Sterling isn’t a wingback, and it’s obvious. The 27-year-old responded, “It is like everything, you come to a new team, there is going to be different things demanded of you,” when questioned about Potter’s introduction.
It is a completely ambiguous shape, he continued on the Kelly and Wrighty show. Although I haven’t played in a back five in a while, the manager has requested me to, and I am more than willing to comply.
“I am high and wide when we have the ball, but you have to defend, of course. However, the more I stand close to the box, the better I feel about myself. However, I am more than willing to play it if it gives me more time to work it out in this position.
Prior to joining Chelsea, Sterling had scored 109 league goals, the most of which had been from traditional wing positions, mostly on the left side of a 4-3-3 at Manchester City, but he hasn’t seen much action there for his new team.
Even when given no defensive responsibilities on the flanks under Potter, he has struggled to get involved in the game or have an impact. Under Tuchel, he was an inside No. 10 or even a false nine.
He acknowledged, “I feel my greatest position is a winger, that’s for sure. “But the manager has his own style of play, and he didn’t spend the entire preseason with us; in fact, he was let go in the middle of a storm. He has it in his hands and is considering the best candidates for the available openings. I keep saying everything will come together nicely with time.”
With nothing on the line for the Blues ahead of a crucial Premier League London derby match against Arsenal on Sunday, Sterling is anticipated to sit out Chelsea’s Champions League match against Dinamo Zagreb tonight (Wednesday).