Mauricio Pochettino has called on Raheem Sterling to demonstrate his worth and prove Gareth Southgate, the England manager, wrong. This comes after Sterling’s impressive performance in Chelsea’s 4-1 victory over Burnley on Saturday.
Sterling was not included in England’s squad for their upcoming friendly against Australia and the Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy. Southgate has omitted him from the last two squads despite having numerous options in the wide positions of England’s attack.
However, Sterling showcased his skills and impact by helping Chelsea secure a win against Burnley. He played a crucial role in Chelsea’s comeback, with his cross deflecting off Ameen Al Dakhil for the equalizing goal and winning a penalty that Cole Palmer converted for his debut Chelsea goal. Sterling also added his own name to the scoresheet with a composed finish in the 65th minute and contributed to Nicolas Jackson’s late goal.
Pochettino commented, “I believe that a player of Sterling’s experience understands the need to perform and prove the national team manager wrong with his decision. Only through strong performances and goal-scoring can he demonstrate that he deserves a place.”
Pochettino also celebrated Chelsea’s consecutive league victories for the first time since March and their first 4+ goal performance since April 2022 when they defeated Southampton 6-0.
After a challenging start to his tenure, Pochettino has now overseen three successive wins in various competitions, which has somewhat alleviated the pressure. He emphasized the importance of consistency and acknowledged the talented squad at Chelsea’s disposal. He anticipates that with time and all players in good form, there will be healthy competition within the team, ultimately elevating the club to compete for significant achievements.