March 2nd 2024.
Mauricio Pochettino, the manager of Chelsea, has expressed his disappointment towards the fans who booed Raheem Sterling during their FA Cup win against Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. Despite being an experienced winger, Sterling has faced criticism from the Blues' supporters ever since his move from Manchester City two summers ago. However, things reached a low point this week when he was substituted in the 76th minute and was met with jeers from the crowd as he made way for Cole Palmer.
Despite his inconsistent form, Sterling has still managed to contribute eight goals and eight assists this season. Pochettino, who is also baffled by the treatment towards the player, spoke about the incident before their game against Brentford. He admitted that he was not aware of the incident, but it is difficult for him to understand why it happened. Pochettino also praised Sterling's commitment to the team, highlighting his regular presence in training sessions.
Another player who has been facing injury setbacks, Reece James, might also find it difficult to secure a spot in Gareth Southgate's England squad this summer. However, Pochettino remains hopeful that the right-back will return to action before the end of the season. He also warned James to not rush his recovery in order to secure a place in the squad for Euro 2024, and instead focus on building his confidence and physical condition.
Pochettino believes that James will play a part in their remaining games this season, but the priority is for him to fully recover and regain his form. He stated that James' target should not be about playing in the last few games or the Euros, but rather about being mentally and physically ready to compete at the highest level again.
In other news, Chelsea are continuously working towards strengthening their squad for the upcoming season. Fans can stay updated with the latest news, exclusives, and analysis by signing up for the newsletter, which is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
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