Raheem Sterling has expressed his confidence that Chelsea will be back challenging for trophies ‘very soon’ and has welcomed the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge. The Blues have spent almost £600m on new signings over the past 12 months, but have endured a disappointing season, finishing 12th in the Premier League and suffering exits in the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.
Sterling told Arab News: ‘We have a good squad, the quality is there. We will add some players and some will leave, I get it, but there’s no doubt in my mind we will be challenging again very soon. From the start of this season we have not had our best XI out. The majority of it, we have had 11, 12 players out injured so it was an unfair start. But then again, these are the challenges that happen at the top football clubs and it will get us the consistency we need. It’s been hard work, it’s been a tough season, but I always believe after tough times there will be good times if you keep working hard. No matter how this season has gone, good, bad or indifferent, I’ve tried to keep the same focus, the same work-rate and believe you will see the shadow pass.’
On the arrival of former Spurs and PSG boss Pochettino, Sterling added: ‘From his time before at Tottenham, I heard a conversation about him and he’s the exact person that we need. He will bring leadership, he will challenge players physically and mentally and I think he is going to come here and he is going to have the personality that everyone is going to respect. That’s what we need, someone in charge.’
Sterling spent seven years at Manchester City and lifted four league titles before joining Chelsea last summer in a deal worth £50m. He endured an underwhelming first season at Stamford Bridge, scoring nine goals in 38 appearances in all competitions. However, he remains determined to succeed at Chelsea: ‘It’s not been hard at all for me personally. I don’t hear the criticism. I keep working, keep going and that’s it. I’ve got the ambition to do well. This is one season and you just have to brush it off and go again. Sometimes these tough times are what gets you to go to the next level. That’s why you use this fuel, you use this motivation of seeing City, my old club, win the title, right in front of me, and go again. It’s simple. That’s the level I’ve been at for the past seven years and that’s the level I want to stay at. I won’t accept this season and we just build now.’
Pochettino has signed a two-year contract at Chelsea, with the option of a further year. He is Chelsea’s sixth permanent manager in five years and arrives following the sackings of Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter earlier in the season. Chelsea sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley said: ‘Mauricio’s experience, standards of excellence, leadership qualities and character will serve Chelsea Football Club well as we move forward. He is a winning coach, who has worked at the highest levels, in multiple leagues and languages. His ethos, tactical approach and commitment to development all made him the exceptional candidate.’