After Raheem Sterling was booed by the Chelsea fans on Sunday, it has sparked a debate about whether they were right with their actions.
Emotions are high at Stamford Bridge because it’s another season of abject failure from the team.
Of course, if Mauricio Pochettino can guide the team to FA Cup glory, then it certainly helps matters and eases pressure on the manager.
But Raheem Sterling, who is 29 and has played for Liverpool, Manchester City and England during his trophy-laden career, would have experienced one of his toughest days against Leicester City on Sunday.
Craig Burley, who also donned the Chelsea colours during his playing days, labelled the booing ‘an absolute disgrace’, as he told ESPN.
The former Scotland international clearly feels there is no benefit from booing the player because it will only cause him further issues – Cole Palmer sent Sterling a message.
The example of Romelu Lukaku was used and how it’s understandable when he was booed because of his infamous comments after moving from Inter.
But Craig Burley explained that Raheem Sterling actually wants to play for the badge and it was just a ‘bad day at the office’ for the winger.
Raheem Sterling’s penalty miss in FA Cup
“I thought it was a disgrace,” said Burley about the booing. “I thought it was an absolute disgrace.
“Raheem Sterling isn’t trying to do what he did against Leicester City. He is trying to do the exact opposite.
“Everyone, whether you are on 1k-a-week or £3k-a-week, it doesn’t matter. I have no problem with fans booing. If Raheem Sterling, like Lukaku did or anybody else is saying, ‘I don’t want to be at this football club. I don’t want to play for Chelsea. I don’t want to be part of this’, then I can understand that reaction.
“But when it’s pure footballing and it’s people having a bad day at the office, and by the way you win the game and you are in the semi-finals, it’s not Raheem Sterling who has been making all these bad decisions. He’s not signing the cheques or recruiting the players. So, it’s way over the top.”
Pressure on Mauricio Pochettino
In truth, it has been there from the get-go. At the end of the day, when you are an ex-Tottenham manager, you are going to be scrutinised a lot more and fans will get frustrated a lot quicker.
Plus, Pochettino walked into a mess. The team were in the bottom half, with a bloated squad and a number of young stars struggling.
You could argue that Sterling has been better than last season and individual players, such as Malo Gusto are showing some serious promise – Sources have told HITC Football the £325k-a-week star has no future at the club.
But given what Chelsea fans have been used to in recent times, there is only so much patience they are going to have.
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