04 January 2023 , 13:30
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Raheem Sterling struggled to hit the ground running for Chelsea but still has more gears to go through , according to boss Graham Potter.
England ace Sterling is preparing for successive Premier League and FA Cup matches against his old club Manchester City. Sterling, 28, etched his name into City history helping the Etihad outfit win the top-flight four times, including a treble in 2018/19, after joining in 2015 from Liverpool.
But now his loyalties lie at Stamford Bridge following a big money switch from Manchester last summer. He is Chelsea ’s top scorer with six goals in 21 appearances after a £47.5million move from City.
But Sterling and 10th-placed Chelsea are finding it tough in the top-flight despite Potter replacing Thomas Tuchel four months ago at Blues under their new US owners. Potter admitted: “I think it has been a challenge for him.
“It has been a challenging period for everybody. There is a lot of change and a lot of things have happened.
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“In that regard it is never easy to completely settle and hit the ground running.
“There is more to come from Raheem I am sure. But he gives his best everyday and we need to help him get to the level we know he can get to.”
Sterling did open the scoring during Chelsea's draw with Nottingham Forest on Sunday (Rui Vieira/AP/REX/Shutterstock)Where will Chelsea finish in the table this season? Have your say in the comments below.
Despite Sterling opening the scoring at the City Ground on Sunday, Chelsea were held by Nottingham Forest in their second game back after the World Cup.
Blues’ short-comings are clear with every club in the top half of the Premier League having scored more goals than them.
It means Chelsea have won just once in seven Premier League games as fears grow the club could miss out on the top four. The pressure is mounting on boss Potter, who only took charge in September from Brighton, but the Chelsea coach insists he is not fazed about taking on the champions.
And he says he can deal with the flak and criticisms as he believes fellow coaches like Pep Guardiola respect him. The ex-Östersund and Swansea coach reflected: “It feels a lot longer than four months, it has been a season that is unique.
“We see Manchester City as a chance to play against a team who are one of the best in the world. It will be complicated and tough but you need these ones.
“As much as we want to win and it is not acceptable to lose , part of the game is dropping points. It is not succeeding and you have to suffer and try to get better.
“When I think back to how I have got to this point, a lot of the things that have got me to this point are the set-backs and moments of struggle. It is not like the people who are criticising you are 100% wrong, you get that.
“But people in the game who have played against my teams and know the work I have done, there is a general level of respect.”