Unleashing Raheem Sterling: Pochettino's Revolution Begins with a Breathtaking 3-0 Victory over Luton Town

Premier League clubs have already spent just under £2bn in this summer's transfer window, as per figures revealed by Deloitte on Friday. With another week remaining for business, Chelsea stands out as the biggest spenders. Under the leadership of a consortium headed by American businessman Todd Boehly, the club has reportedly come close to reaching the £1bn mark in the past three windows.

Chelsea are still in the hunt for a right winger after failing to secure the services of Michael Olise. However, it's possible that the solution may already lie within their own team.

Under the Clearlake Capital era, the first player to be signed was Raheem Sterling from Manchester City for a fee of £47.5m. Unfortunately, this acquisition quickly resulted in friction between manager Thomas Tuchel and the club, and their relationship never improved.

Sterling's initiation into his next professional phase proved to be less than satisfactory, contrasting greatly with his previous six seasons filled with well-earned accolades under the guidance of Pep Guardiola. As the preceding season progressed, it became increasingly evident that City had made a shrewd decision to capitalize on a player whose prime had past.

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Sterling shone for Chelsea against Luton

Sterling had a dismal year in west London, experiencing a lack of success under five different head coaches at Chelsea. Throughout his time with Tuchel, Potter, Saltor, and Lampard, he struggled with both his physical condition and performance, resulting in his lowest offensive output in ten years.

In Qatar, he departed from England's World Cup squad due to concerns for his family's safety following a burglary incident at his Surrey residence.

He made it back in time to witness England's unfortunate quarter-final loss to France, but to his dismay, he was omitted from the squad for their victorious matches against Ukraine and Italy in March. It was not surprising when he was once again disregarded for the Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia in June.

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Raheem Sterling, with the aim of reclaiming his position as a prominent figure, has reached a mutual agreement with his coach to refrain from participating in the forthcoming international matches. The decision has been made to prioritize his physical recovery for the upcoming season.

Southgate mentioned in his squad announcement that he recently had a conversation with Sterling. It was a general catch-up, during which Sterling expressed his dissatisfaction with his physical condition. He has been dealing with a hamstring issue, which has affected his performance. As a result, Sterling was not considered for the squad as he believes he is not currently performing at the required level.

However, at the age of 28, Sterling should be reaching the peak of his career. The initial indications under Mauricio Pochettino's guidance show promise for Sterling's future.

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Sterling is determined to prove his value to his critics.

"On the eve of the game, Pochettino stated that Raheem deserves recognition, not from us but from others," he said. Sterling showcased his exceptional skills while wearing the Chelsea shirt during the 3-1 loss to West Ham.

Scoring nine goals in 38 matches across all competitions for Chelsea last season, he stood out amidst another lackluster display by the team. His exceptional approach play, movement, and dribbling skills served as a reminder to all that he remains a dominant presence in the Premier League.

Sterling showcased his dominance in Chelsea's 30 Premier League matches, consistently leading in touches, successful dribbles, passes in the final third, and successful duels. His seamless integration into the right-wing position of the front three was evident throughout.

The lack of a competent Number 9 contributed significantly to Sterling's challenges at Chelsea. With an average of only one goal per game in the previous Premier League season, rectifying this issue has become a top priority during the summer transfer window. Unfortunately, the absence of Christopher Nkunku for a few months and Nicolas Jackson's ongoing adjustment to the Premier League are further setbacks.

Sterling showed his prowess in the match against Luton.

"I came to Chelsea during a challenging period," he shared with We after their 3-0 victory. "The key is that I have reflected on myself and now, I am determined to regain my passion for football. It's as straightforward as that."

I thought to myself, "You've experienced a lot in your career, and now you face a new challenge."

Sometimes your mind can be clouded, but there are moments when you need clarity. My passion for football is too strong to fade away, especially at the age of 28.

Reflecting on his summer stint at Chelsea, the player admitted that he had to search within himself to understand the reasons for his decline. He left no aspect unexplored, even considering his food intake as a potential contributing factor.

"I made some adjustments to my diet towards the end of the previous season and embarked on a new endeavor, distinct from my previous routines," he shared. "I have slightly decreased my food intake.

"The pre-season serves as an opportune period to optimize my physical health, and presently, I am feeling fantastic."

It comes as no surprise that we are only now witnessing his peak performance once again. Due to the high turnover of players since the player's debut last season, only three starters from the opening-day victory over Everton are still part of the club - Thiago Silva, Reece James, and Ben Chilwell.

However, it is his confident body language and skillful dribbling that indicate a return to stability.

This young Chelsea squad has been severely affected by injuries to nine key players in the early weeks of the season. Consequently, senior members like Sterling must take advantage of the favorable schedule that began on Friday. Following the match against Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge, the team will travel to Bournemouth.

Scoring goals remained a significant problem in the first two matches against Liverpool and West Ham. Axel Disasi and midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka were the only ones to find the back of the net.

Chelsea's goal is to aim for a consistent European finish. Therefore, losing points on a Friday night against Luton, even though it was early in the Pochettino rebuild, would have been unforgivable.

Sterling consistently achieved double-digit goal figures for nine consecutive seasons during his stints at Liverpool and Man City. In fact, he even reached the impressive milestone of 30 goals for City in the 2019/20 season, a feat unmatched by any Chelsea player since the days of Didier Drogba.

During the match against Luton, Sterling once again showcased his devastating abilities. His first goal perfectly embodied his distinctive style, with his nimble footwork leaving Ryan Giles helpless and his finish displaying incredible precision.

However, he wasn't satisfied with concluding his night there, after being denied earlier on two occasions.

Chilwell's determination to assist his teammate for a second goal showcased his likability within the team, as the full-back willingly passed up a potential scoring opportunity to support a player who will primarily be evaluated based on his offensive contributions this season.

The tenacity in his performance compelled Amari'i Bell to make an initial error, resulting in Sterling's second goal that ultimately decided the outcome of the game. Despite already scoring twice, Sterling managed to add to his night's success by providing an assist for Nicolas Jackson. His exceptional collaboration with Malo Gusto on the right flank was a standout aspect of the entire match.

Chelsea fans will be anticipating a substantial improvement in the absence of European football this season, aiming to surpass their disappointing 12th-place finish from the previous year. Under the management of the new owners, the club observed their lowest points tally (44) since the 1987-88 season (42), which resulted in their relegation.

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"Our goal as owners is crystal clear: We aim to bring pride to the fans," stated Boehly upon his return in May 2022.

Undoubtedly, their aspiration is still a work in progress. However, if Sterling, who has been overlooked, can maintain his resurgence, Chelsea may have found the perfect individual to accomplish that primary objective.

What's next?

Luton Town

West Ham United

Friday 1st September 7:00pm

Kick off 8:00pm

Chelsea is set to play two home games in the upcoming week. On Tuesday night, they will be up against AFC Wimbledon, a League Two side, in the second round of the Carabao Cup. Following that, Chelsea will be hosting Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge for their next Premier League game on September 2 with a kick-off time of 3pm.

On Tuesday night, Luton will partake in Carabao Cup action as they host Gillingham. Following this, their focus will shift to their first Premier League match at Kenilworth Road, as the Hatters welcome West Ham on Friday Night Football on September 1, with kick-off at 8pm.