17 February 2024 , 19:25
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Raheem Sterling refused to celebrate against his former club after scoring Chelsea's opening goal against Manchester City on Saturday evening.
Sterling, 29, spent seven years on the books at the Etihad before joining the Blues in the summer of 2022, winning a glut of silverware including four Premier League titles. That hasn't prevented him from getting an adverse reaction from City fans since his exit, though.
Both Sterling and Cole Palmer - who left City to join Chelsea in the summer - were subdued in their celebrations in the enthralling 4-4 draw between the two sides earlier in the season. And Sterling once again refused to antagonise his former club after breaking the deadlock in their latest meeting.
In doing so he ignored comments made by Blues head coach Mauricio Pochettino before the match, with the Argentine stressing that he believes players should celebrate goals against old clubs.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Pochettino even seemed to encourage them to do so, saying: "If they celebrate, it's football. If they don't celebrate and want to show respect, OK, but I think when you score a goal you need to celebrate.
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"You kill your former club and after you say sorry. When you play for different shirts and badges and clubs, you cannot stop your feelings. When you score, it's the most beautiful feeling in your body and you cannot go, "Argh, no, I don't want to celebrate." You need to. You are now playing for another team.
"You showed respect when you were there and you gave everything to the club and the badge and the people. But now you defend another shirt, you need to celebrate because you are part of another history."
Join the debate! What did you make of Chelsea's performance against Man City? Let us know here.
Sterling participated in muted celebrations after scoring Chelsea's opener (Nick Potts/PA Wire)Although Sterling was respectful to his former club after being Ederson in the 42nd minute, he was still booed by portions of the Etihad crowd when he was withdrawn on the hour mark.
Palmer was also given a less than rousing reception from the City faithful when he was substituted not long after with the Blues still leading their opponents 1-0.
The champions spurned a glut of golden chances in the second half before Rodri finally restored parity with a ferocious strike which whistled past Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic in the 83rd minute to set up a tense finale in Manchester.
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