Steve Nicol blames Raheem Sterling for Chelsea in their 2-2 draw with Burnley
ESPN pundit Steve Nicol has hit out at Raheem Sterling for not stepping up for Chelsea in their 2-2 draw with Burnley. The former Manchester City forward had an incredible chance to steer the Blues to a 3-2 win but missed a wonderful opportunity. Chelsea signed the Englishman from Manchester City last summer for £47.5m.
Chelsea once again paid the price for being complacent in the game and conceded two goals against 10-man Burnley. Cole Palmer had a brace to his name, and it appeared to be enough to navigate the Blues to a hard-fought win, but the Blues’ leaky defence once again couldn’t contain the opposition attack and conceded a goal when the game was heading to the closing stages.
However, Chelsea could have secured a narrow win had Sterling not fluffed a massive opportunity when his header went beyond the goal after an impressive, lobbed pass from Palmer.
The 29-year-old could have become the hero of the match but chose to become the villain instead, and pundit Nicol pointed out the forward’s massive missed chance and told ESPN:
‘’They bring Sterling on, and he’s got the most incredible chance—probably seven, eight yards out, a free header, a goalie to beat, and he puts it about 20 yards wide. He could have been the hero, but he becomes the villain once again. Every time you go to Stamford Bridge, you don’t know what you’re going to see. It’s just incredible.”
It’s not like he lost a huge opportunity to lead Chelsea to a close victory; Sterling has also struggled this season. We look on him to step up during these games, but he always ends up being another poor player who hides.
He has a lot of experience playing in the Premier League and ought to be a leader for the younger players on the field, but his inconsistent play and tendency to fade into the shadows during games frustrate spectators and incite them to jeer at him.
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It’s not new, though, so we can’t keep whining. Pochettino ought to know which player is contributing on the pitch. If Sterling isn’t having an influence on the game, he will need to make some difficult choices and introduce some other players, who can actually make a difference.
