Chelsea owner Todd Boehly singled out Raheem Sterling in dressing room chat
Raheem Sterling was among the Chelsea stars to be addressed by owner Todd Boehly when he ventured into the dressing room after a defeat last season.
The American was happy to make his presence felt after games and on one occasion spoke to Sterling about the team's lack of goals following their loss to Brighton at Stamford Bridge back in April. Boehly wanted to remind the winger of his world class status but demand more from him in a leadership sense, reports the Telegraph.
Sterling was spoken to as the whole squad were addressed following another damaging defeat. The England international was the first major signing of the Boehly-era and he sits closest to the dressing room door, which may explain why the American approached him first.
The ex-Manchester City star is understood to have taken Boehly's comments well, accepting that the owner had a right to his opinion. Sterling had also been part of a dressing room at the Etihad where individuals were encouraged to give their views and demand standards.
During his rant the American told the squad that their performances across the course of the campaign were 'embarrassing' as Chelsea recorded their worst Premier League finish in well over two decades. Boehly's rousing speech did little to make a difference though as the Blues won just one of their final seven league games after the Brighton loss.
Chelsea complete record-breaking Enzo Fernandez transfer after deadline day rushFrank Lampard found himself back in west London when Graham Potter was sacked mid-season. The duo were two of several men to occupy the Chelsea dugout last season as Boehly presided over a horror first campaign as the club's owner, sacking Thomas Tuchel early on.
Sterling was signed when the German was still in charge but failed to replicate the form he showed previously in Manchester. The winger only scored nine times and has since lost his spot in the Three Lions squad with the Euros just months away.
He's enjoyed a return to form at the start of the current campaign, only to be overlooked by Gareth Southgate. His performances have dipped in recent weeks however and he was jeered off by his own fans when he was hauled off during a 4-2 home loss against Wolves earlier this month.
The 29-year-old has not started for the Blues since with Mauricio Pochettino only handing him cameo appearances of the bench in Chelsea's last two games against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace.
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