Raheem Sterling that he admitted he felt he was wasting his time on the bench at Manchester City, and that a move away this summer was the only option left to him in his first full interview as a Chelsea player.
Sterling made his debut for the Blues as they saw off Everton 1-0 at Goodison Park on the opening day of the season, and at 27 years old, is in the prime of his career.
He found himself in and out of the side at Manchester City despite his impressive performances last season, forced to watch on from the bench in both Champions League semi-final legs against Real Madrid.
And that, he revealed, left him no choice but to depart.
“The move came about because as a person you strive to achieve stuff. I felt my playing time at Man City was getting limited and you can’t afford to waste that time. I didn’t want to see my time rising and falling so I made the change”, he explained.
“I tried to fight and change the situation but I couldn’t and I came here.”
🗣 “To get to a peak time of my career, to not playing as a regular. It was something that I wouldn’t accept.”
Raheem Sterling says he did try to fight the situation at Manchester City but in the end he was unable to which meant he looked for a transfer away from the club. pic.twitter.com/DWBykrYwI9
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) August 11, 2022
“Chelsea have been in four or five finals in recent years. It shows they are competing and are only going up so with the new owners in it all made sense”, he told the media.
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What Tuchel expects from Sterling
Meanwhile, Sterling was also quizzed on how he may have to adapt his game in order to fit in with the Blues, and hinted that there would be some changes under Thomas Tuchel.
“My position is mainly on the wing but sometimes I enjoy floating about and getting the ball. I always judge myself on how effective I am. In the last game against Everton, I played in the false nine and I want to help my team”, he explained.
✅ winger
Raheem Sterling on his best position on the pitch. 💪 pic.twitter.com/vV1JeMWAm4
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) August 11, 2022
“He [Tuchel] said he wanted my directness and how I run in behind as well as how I attack the full-backs, which is something he wants to see a lot more of”, the English winger revealed.
“I’m 27, I know my standards, I know what I can bring to a team and I won’t accept anything less”, he added.
