MY ACCOUNT
Raheem Sterling hailed the “winning mentality” of Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea side as he targeted silverware after swapping Manchester City for the Blues.
Having won four Premier League titles in a successful seven-year spell with City, Sterling completed a £45million move to Chelsea earlier this month.
Chelsea’s top league goalscorer last season was Sterling’s England team-mate Mason Mount with 11, and the signing of the 27-year-old Sterling should give the Blues more cutting edge. Sterling’s haul of 91 Premier League goals is a total that has been bettered only among City players by Sergio Aguero (184).
Chelsea have not won a Premier League title since Antonio Conte’s men triumphed in the 2016-17 season, but they have collected several pieces of silverware in the intervening years.
The Stamford Bridge outfit have won the Champions League, Europa League, FIFA Club World Cup and both domestic cups since that success, and Sterling’s desire to lift major trophies was a key factor in his decision to make the move.
“In the last two years, it’s four or five finals that you guys have been in, you won the Champions League and are now looking to challenge for the Premier League,” Sterling told Chelsea’s website.
“It’s something that intrigued me when I was having a conversation with the club.
“Seeing the direction that you guys are going in, it’s something I really bought into and I just felt it is a place where I can really come into my own. I just think it’s the perfect platform for me.
“The club’s already got that winning mentality, but to keep doing it every single year and keep winning more and more trophies and building on the previous season, I think that’s what top managers like Thomas do.
“It’s not one year win and next year rest, it’s again and again and again, and that’s what excites me to be here.”
Having been allowed to leave City to make room for marquee arrival Erling Haaland, Sterling explained how Tuchel’s faith in him was also a crucial consideration.
“You can see how genuine he was and how much he wanted me here, and that was the nail on it for me,” Sterling said. “I was certain that this is a place I want to be.
“I feel at home already, and I’m just going to keep putting the work in and can’t wait to gel even more with [my team-mates].
“I know how much more I have to offer. I still feel within myself that there’s another step that I’ve been fighting to get to, and I think this is the perfect platform for me to do that.”
Sterling could make his Premier League debut for Chelsea when they travel to Everton on August 6.
