Raheem Sterling, Chelsea’s latest acquisition, has at last explained why he switched from Premier League rival Manchester City to Thomas Tuchel’s team.
The goal of returning Chelsea to the top of the Premier League, according to the England international, was a factor in his choice to sign with the Blues.
After seven seasons with Manchester City, where he won four Premier League trophies, the forward made the decision to switch to Stamford Bridge in a £47.5 million deal earlier this summer.
Sterling said he chose to accept Chelsea’s difficult assignment to dethrone City as champions because it was too attractive to turn down.
Raheem Sterling disclosed all these to Chelsea TV:
“Seeing in the last two years it’s four or five finals that you guys have been in, the progress, you won the Champions League and are now looking to challenge for the Premier League, 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 forward added that;
“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 [Tuchel] 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.”
Sterling also talked about his conversations with team coach Thomas Tuchel and his dialogues with some of the team’s players.
After meeting a few of his new teammates from the national team, he said he was certain Stamford Bridge was the place he wanted to be. He added that he really felt at home there and couldn’t wait to link up more with them.
“You can see how genuine [Tuchel] was and how much he wanted me here, and that was the nail on it for me. I was certain that this is a place I want to be. I know a few of the boys from the national team. Mase [Mason Mount], Chilly [Ben Chilwell], to name a few, and I’ve got a good connection with Callum [Hudson-Odoi] already. I feel at home already and I’m just keep putting the work in and can’t wait to gel even more with them.”
The new Chelsea star further noted that;
“It’s been a great first week, I am really settling in, I feel at home now. I say to the fans, thank you for your warm welcome. It’s an exciting time for me. 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 on to and I think this is the perfect platform for me to do that. Hopefully I can do that in person at the Bridge for many years to come and just keep bagging them goals in, simple as that“