- 17 hours ago
Sterling needs Potter to adopt Tuchel tactic
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 23 May 2023 08:55 CDT
- 3 min read
Chelsea manager Graham Potter says that he believes that the World Cup can help revive Raheem Sterling, though the forward must feel that he was dragged to the club in the summer under false pretences.
Sterling completed a €56 million move to Chelsea from Manchester City to play for Thomas Tuchel through the centre of the attack. Under the German, he made a promising start to the season, scoring three goals and creating one more in seven games.
The arrival of Potter, however, sparked a dramatic downturn. Under the former Brighton boss, he has featured primarily as a wing-back. It is an arrangement that has so far suited neither the player nor the team. Indeed, Chelsea have laboured offensively under their new boss, netting just two goals in their last four games.
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“It is part of being a top player, part of where we are in terms of always having something to prove, especially if things don't go as well as you would like, in terms of performances and results,” Potter said. “You know you're open to scrutiny, you're open to criticism. If you don't accept that or you can't deal with that, then you probably shouldn't be here.
“Raheem's a big boy, and he understands that. And things change very quickly. He's had enough of a career so far to deal with that, and it's a new opportunity, a new situation, and I'm sure he'll do really well.”
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Stop pounding Sterling
| Chance conversion | Chances | Goals | xG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raheem Sterling | 23% | 22 | 5 | 5.6 |
| Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | 20% | 15 | 3 | 3.1 |
| Mason Mount | 17% | 12 | 2 | 3 |
| Kai Havertz | 16% | 25 | 4 | 4.3 |
| Conor Gallagher | 14% | 7 | 1 | 1.5 |
| Christian Pulisic | 11% | 9 | 1 | 1.47 |
Sterling, though, has proven to be one of Chelsea’s most efficient scorers this season. In a team noted for its wastefulness, he has been impressively efficient.
In terms of players who have had seven chances or more in all the Blues’ competitive games, no one has a higher chance conversion percentage than the England forward’s 23%.
Meanwhile, with five goals, he remains the club’s leading scorer this season, even if he is shooting slightly under his xG – a fact that he has in common with Chelsea’s other forwards.
What Sterling needs to reignite his Chelsea form isn’t the World Cup, but Potter to take a leaf out of Tuchel’s book by fielding him as a centre forward.
