Raheem Sterling Disregards Mauricio Pochettino’s Instructions After Scoring Against Man City
Raheem Sterling refused to celebrate against his former club after scoring the opening goal for Chelsea against Manchester City on Saturday evening.
Sterling, 29, spent seven years at Manchester City before joining the Blues in the summer of 2022, where he won a slew of awards, including four Premier League titles. Despite this, he has received negative feedback from City fans since his departure.
Sterling and Cole Palmer, who left City to join Chelsea in the summer, were restrained in their celebrations following the thrilling 4-4 draw between the two teams earlier this season.
Sterling refused to antagonise his former club after breaking the deadlock in their most recent meeting.
In doing so, he ignored comments made by Blues head coach Mauricio Pochettino prior to the match, in which the Argentine stated that he believes players should celebrate goals against former clubs.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Pochettino actually seemed to rouse them to do so, saying: “If they celebrate, it’s football. If they don’t celebrate and want to show respect, OK, but I think when you score a goal you need to celebrate.
“You kill your former club and after you say sorry. When you play for different shirts and badges and clubs, you cannot stop your feelings. When you score, it’s the most beautiful feeling in your body and you cannot go, “Argh, no, I don’t want to celebrate.” You need to. You are now playing for another team.
“You showed respect when you were there and you gave everything to the club and the badge and the people. But now you defend another shirt, you need to celebrate because you are part of another history.”
Although Sterling was respectful of his former club after replacing Ederson in the 42nd minute, he was still booed by some members of the Etihad crowd when he was replaced on the hour mark.
Palmer was also given a less than enthusiastic reception by the City fans when he was replaced shortly after, with the Blues still leading their opponents 1-0.
The champions squandered numerous golden opportunities in the second half before Rodri restored parity with a ferocious strike that whistled past Chelsea custodian Djordje Petrovic in the 83rd minute, setting up a tense finish in Manchester.
Raheem Sterling Disregards Mauricio Pochettino’s Instructions After Scoring Against Man City
