Sterling: Tough experiences will make us stronger
06 MAY 2023
Over Raheem Sterling’s long and successful professional career he has never known what it is like to be nearer the bottom of the table than the top, but the winger believes the disappointment of his first season at Chelsea will help inspire the future to be even brighter.
During his decade with Liverpool and Manchester City, Sterling never finished lower than seventh. However, the Blues come into today’s game at Bournemouth in 12th position, aware a defeat on the South Coast and a win for Wolves against Aston Villa would see us slip two more places in the league rankings.
It is unchartered territory for Sterling, and for modern-era Chelsea. The 28-year-old has given his thoughts on the situation and how it can change.
‘You have to get out of it and work, and that’s what we’ve been doing, working,’ he said. ‘That’s all we can do right now. People are giving their best, people are doing things, like anything we are trying to create our own luck for ourselves and get out of this predicament.
‘It’s a learning experience and one that will make me better, one that will make me enjoy the good times when they come again because for a period of time I haven’t had this feeling.
‘Nothing like this lasts forever,’ he added. ‘That’s the mindset. We have to keep working. When you get the first win or the first goal, the next one comes. Some of the best times I’ve had in football have been like that.’
Clearly Sterling’s first season back in west London has not gone as he would have wished. But he speaks with the authority of somebody who has already overcome so much in his career, and in his life. He knows what he can do to get the best out of himself, and what Chelsea must do to return to English football’s top table.
‘I’ve been in and out of positions I’m not used to, I’ve had to try and adapt, but like everything, don’t complain, don’t not try. It is what it is: wait for this game on the weekend and try to do what you can do, give your best for the team, and know the more work you put in, [the more chance] you’re going to overcome the situation.
‘So I have to keep working, keep putting in the yards, getting up to people and driving at people, do the right things and the results will come.
‘You have to remember you can only control what you can control. With the experience I’ve had, playing since I was 17, I’ve trained my mind to not dwell on things. You can have thoughts, but it’s how you deal with them, how it affects your day to day, how you’re training, how you’re recovering, how you’re preparing for games.
‘I know it’s been a bad season, but this is part of football,’ continued Sterling. ‘We’re not meant to be this far down, but this is one of the things that can happen. That’s why every football player’s story is incredible. This is part of my story, the club’s story, and we just need to make sure we don’t stay in this predicament for too long. We need to be able to crawl back out from this run and I know we will.’
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