Raheem Sterling’s Disregard for Celebration Instruction: Pochettino’s Reaction
Raheem Sterling, the England forward who now plays for Chelsea, did not celebrate his goal against his former club Manchester City despite clear instructions from his manager, Mauricio Pochettino. Sterling scored the opening goal in the 1-1 draw between the two sides on Saturday evening, but his celebration was notably muted. Pochettino had told him that he “needed to celebrate” if he scored against City, emphasizing that when playing for a different team, one cannot stop their feelings and should show their appreciation for their current club.
Pochettino, in his post-match press conference, had nothing but praise for Sterling’s performance, highlighting his experience and the importance of an offensive player scoring to boost confidence. He commended Sterling for his defensive contributions as well, mentioning how he defended well and helped the team in various positions.
However, despite the positive performance and the good point earned away from home, Sterling himself expressed disappointment with the result. He believed that Chelsea had chances to finish the game off and felt they could have come away with more. The draw leaves Chelsea in 10th place and 14 points off the top four.
Looking ahead, Pochettino will be relying on Sterling to continue his scoring form against former clubs as Chelsea takes on Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final next Sunday. It remains to be seen whether Sterling will follow Pochettino’s instructions to celebrate if he finds the back of the net against his former team once again.
Overall, Sterling’s decision to disregard Pochettino’s celebration instruction raises questions about his loyalty to his former club and his commitment to his current team. On one hand, it could be seen as a sign of respect towards City, where he played a significant role in their success for many years. On the other hand, it could be interpreted as a lack of enthusiasm for his new club, potentially affecting team morale.
Regardless of the underlying reasons, Pochettino remains supportive of Sterling and appreciates his contributions on the pitch. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how Sterling’s performances and celebrations evolve, especially in high-stakes matches like the upcoming Carabao Cup final against Liverpool.