EPL: Sad to see him suffer- Tuchel laments condition of England star
England football manager Thomas Tuchel has expressed regret over the current situation of Raheem Sterling, the former Manchester City winger who is currently without a club.
Sterling, 31, joined Chelsea in the summer of 2022 for a fee of £47.5 million, concluding a successful tenure at Manchester City. During his time with the team, he scored 131 goals in 339 appearances and won four Premier League titles.
Initial hopes for his success at Chelsea were high, particularly under Tuchel’s management at the time of his signing. However, Sterling’s fortunes took a downturn. He was left out of the squad at the start of the 2024-25 season when Enzo Maresca took over as manager. Subsequently, Sterling was loaned to Arsenal, where his performance fell short of expectations; he scored just one goal in 28 matches.
At the time of his loan move, Sterling was earning £325,000 per week. Upon his return to Chelsea, both parties mutually agreed to terminate his contract in January. He subsequently joined Feyenoord in February, but his stint in the Netherlands was also unproductive, leading to his departure at the end of the season.
In addition to his club challenges, Sterling faces legal issues. He is currently awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to charges of dangerous driving and possession of nitrous oxide.
“I have a lot of empathy for him; I believe he has faced challenges since leaving Manchester City, where he performed at a high level,” Tuchel said. “I supported his transfer, but he wasn’t able to replicate his usual impact. It was a significant transition for him at that time.”
Tuchel lamented Sterling’s difficulties, describing him as a devoted father and a good person. “It’s unfortunate to see someone struggle. Sometimes, life can put you in a strange downward spiral. My thoughts are with him, and I hope he can turn things around.”
