Chelsea: Raheem Sterling’s improved form explained

The England winger has had some excellent performances in the Premier League so far this season.

Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling has had a great start to the Premier League season under Mauricio Pochettino and it seems due to three main reasons.

What’s the latest on Raheem Sterling and Chelsea?

Last season, after the Englishman arrived from Manchester City in an alleged £50million deal, things didn’t go very well for the winger. After all, he ended the season with just six league goals – his lowest tally in seven years.

But already at the start of the current season, he was showing clear signs of improvement. For example, in the 3-1 defeat against West Ham, he was praised for his effort despite the defeat.

According to the Evening Standard, he has had the best performance for Chelsea, with a score of 8/10. In the same article journalist Nizaar Kinsella added: “An incredible action-packed dribbling performance in which he was Chelsea’s main architect and threat. He deserved an assist.”

More recently, he stole the show in a home win against Luton Town, netting a brace to give the Blues their first competitive win under Pochettino. Jamie Carragher noted the player’s shapeshifting commentary for Sky Sports. She said (via Daily Mail): ‘Raheem Sterling’s Dancing Feet. Last week he gave his best and this is further proof.

“Now let’s see the real Raheem Sterling in the Chelsea shirt.”

There has apparently been a major shift in the way the 28-year-old has performed recently and a new report in The Athletic finds three reasons for this change in form.

Why is Raheem Sterling playing so well now?

First, his diet. The article explains: ‘The key to his resurgence was talking to the Chelsea staff about what was going on. The club recommended a nutritionist to him and they have been working together ever since. A list of foods that aid in muscle recovery and replenishment has been provided.”

He goes on to explain that Sterling now logs his daily meals and has them analyzed by a nutritionist who tells him what to add or reduce to his diet, even hiring a personal chef to cater to his needs at home.

Subsequently, as evidenced by the video below, the 28-year-old has been working hard off-season to develop his explosive speed and cardiovascular fitness.

He trained hard all summer and raced the steep hills of Lightwater Country Park in Surrey with the Camberley Judo Club. As you can see in the footage, his ability to outrun other athletes on this uncomfortable ground has seen him easily outrun defenders in the Premier League.

Raheem Sterling’s off season work with @ben_rosenblatt included training alongside Camberley Judo Club. Great to see him back to his flying best. pic.twitter.com/MVyf116xcr

— STATSports (@statsports) August 25, 2023

Finally, Pochettino’s arrival at Stamford Bridge seems to have boosted Stelings’ confidence. Sterling had never before experienced what it means for a club to sack a manager. And so it was going to be tough when Chelsea went from Thomas Tuchel to Graham Potter to Frank Lampard in one season.

The article also explains that “the player’s bond with Pochettino is already very close” and that they are “completely on the same wavelength”. This also brings results in the field.

After all, according to WhoScored, Sterling has the highest rating of the entire team to date with a 7.6 rating. In that span, he started three games, scored two goals and won a man of the match award.

It is clear that these three changes make a huge difference.