Chelsea forward Raheem Sterling has admitted the team are at a loss for words to describe their current struggles but he has no regrets about making the move to west London.
Sterling joined Chelsea during the summer as the first senior signing of the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital era but, alongside almost all of his teammates, has fallen well short of expectations at Stamford Bridge this year.
Individually, Sterling has managed just four goals and two assists in the Premier League this season but, as a sign of the significance of Chelsea’s struggles, actually sits second on both charts for the Blues.
“Sometimes you have lows. I haven’t been in this situation in my career so far but I am more than up to the challenge,” he told The Sun.
“We are disappointed when we come off the pitch and feel angry and disappointed. There are times when we finish a game you just sit in the changing room looking into space because you can’t understand what has just happened. It’s tough to take. You are always trying to look for a positive solution.
“It’s not easy. The feeling of winning games week in, week out is one that everyone in the dressing room is used to. So it’s what we enjoy and we want it back. To not have it this year is not the best.
“Performances haven’t been at the level they should, mine included. I haven’t been anywhere near my usual level.
“We want the results and winning trophies to be the main attraction for the football club like it has been for so many years. That’s why I came here, because of the rich history and with the new owners and new direction, it was a no-brainer. And I have no regrets at all.”
Sterling went on to admit that Chelsea have lacked the consistency he enjoyed with former employers Manchester City, although he stressed that his old club needed plenty of time to develop that in the first place.
“Consistency and structure go hand in hand and City have that in abundance,” he continued. “My first few years at City were nothing like that. We were all over the place. They weren’t the best.
“We had one management leave and another came in. Pep came in and, in the first season, played good football but it wasn’t there. But there was structure and time to implement his way, get the right players and people buying into it.”
