Staff Reporter.
Raheem Sterling conceded that Chelsea’s slump this season has been one of the low points of his career but believes the struggles could strengthen the Premier League team in the long run.
Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat by Arsenal on Tuesday left them 12th in the standings, stumbling towards their worst campaign since the 1993-94 season despite huge expenditure on players, including Sterling’s move from Manchester City for 47.5 million pounds ($60 million).
The England international has failed to replicate the performances that made him a key part of a team with whom he won 10 major trophies and he has scored only seven goals in 34 appearances for Chelsea.
“Personally, this is one of the lowest points in my career. This might sound a bit weird, but it is also a great learning curve,” Sterling told Sky Sports in an interview published on Saturday.
“It’s been pretty smooth sailing winning, winning and winning but sometimes in life stuff gets thrown at you and it is a challenge that I’m looking forward to, hitting it head on and not trying to hide from it.
“It will only make me stronger and also the group stronger. These challenges, not in just football but life as well, it’s crucial to how we deal with things and how we kick on after.”
“There’s new ownership, the new manager that came at the start of the season, new players and some players that were meant to leave that didn’t at the time, it’s been an overload of players,” said Sterling.
“It’s hard for any manager to deal with. He hasn’t got the right amount and we have to try and do training sessions that involve everyone because people need to be fit as well.
“It’s difficult but every manager that’s been here has dealt with it as professionally as they can, and they have never been disrespectful to any player here.
“It’s been a challenge and something that we do definitely need to get sorted because if a manager is here, he wants players who are invested in what the club wants to achieve and what he wants to achieve.
“It’s quite difficult to do that with mixed emotions in the squad. It’s definitely something as a club we need to get organised.”
Chelsea are 12th in the Premier League are winless in their last nine matches across all competitions; and will travel to Bournemouth later on Saturday.