What is Raheem Sterling's best position? Chelsea star already complaining

FT Desk

• 1 Nov 2022 16:34 GMT
• 3 min read

Raheem Sterling has been used at left wing-back and up front since his £47.5 million (€55m) move from Manchester City to Chelsea this summer…

Sterling left the Etihad for Stamford Bridge in search of more first-team minutes, and although he has started 10 of a possible 12 games in the Premier League, coming off the bench in one more, it would be fair to say it hasn't all gone to plan for the England winger.

Thomas Tuchel was sacked as manager a matter of weeks after Sterling signed, to be replaced by Graham Potter, and the former Brighton tactician put Sterling at left wing-back for his first game in charge - a 1-1 draw with Red Bull Salzburg in the Champions League.

READ: Nkunku can't arrive soon enough for floundering Chelsea

Sterling may have scored the opener that day, but his return of four goals and two assists from 16 games in all competitions is not what either player or club would have hoped for, and some are now questioning whether he should be on the plane for the World Cup in Qatar later this month.

Chelsea aren't exactly stuck for options on the left flank, with Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella on their books, but Potter struck with the experiment on Saturday as the Blues were humbled 4-1 by his former club, Brighton.

What is Sterling's best position?

Sterling is in no doubt about what his best position it.

"Yeah of course, I feel my best position is as a winger, that's for sure," he told the Kelly and Wrighty show on YouTube. "But the manager has his way of playing. He's not had a full pre-season with us, he was dropped in in the middle of a storm really. He's trying to figure out the best personnel and their positions, and I'm sure with time it will all gel nicely."

READ: How Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo blocked Sterling to Real Madrid

Sterling's best season to date was the 2017/18 campaign when he had 23 goals and 17 assists in all competitions for Man City. Curiously, he started on the right flank 14 times in the Premier League that season.

As well as using Sterling too deep, Potter might even be using him on the wrong side. Sterling is lucky that Gareth Southgate is so loyal to players based on their England rather than their club form…