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Home » “I played as a wing-back”- Graham Potter hits back at accusations of misusing Raheem Sterling at Chelsea

“I played as a wing-back”- Graham Potter hits back at accusations of misusing Raheem Sterling at Chelsea

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Frank Lampard is unsure about the reason behind the omission of Chelsea star Raheem Sterling from the England squad.

Chelsea boss Graham Potter hits back at accusations of misusing Raheem Sterling

After the game against Dinamo Zagreb (h/t Metro), Chelsea manager Graham Potter has hit back at accusations that he is wasting the attacking talents of Raheem Sterling and insists the player has never been asked to play as a wing-back.

In both the Champions League games against RB Salzburg and the defeat against Brighton and Hove Albion, Sterling positionally played as a left wing-back. After last week, pundits, including Arsenal legend Ian Wright were confused at the manager’s tactics.

Responding to those accusations, Potter has insisted that Sterling has always been high and wide and not asked to defend as a conventional wing-back is generally told to do. He also talked about injuries forcing him to make tactical tweaks to help the team.

Chelsea's Raheem Sterling celebrates after a goal against RB Salzburg in the UEFA Champions League.
Raheem Sterling scored against Dinamo Zagreb to break 10-game duck for Chelsea. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

The manager said he has played as a wing-back in the past and he can assure people that Sterling isn’t playing in that role at Chelsea (h/t Metro). The English tactician played as a left-back (and at times, a left-wing-back) between 1992 and 2005 for clubs such as Stoke City and Southampton.

“Well, we’ve tried to play him as high and wide as we can. I know there is a lot of talk about him being a wing-back, but I played as a wing-back and I can assure you that Raheem has never played as a wing-back!”

“He has never been asked to play and defend in a back five or back four even. His responsibility has always been against the full-back. With the back four behind him tonight probably helped, he was a little bit higher and a little bit wider. It was nice for him to score because he has been working hard for the team.”

Sterling started as a forward against Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday and scored the equaliser in the eventual win for the Blues. By scoring, the 27-year-old ended his 10-game goal drought.

Chelsea boss Graham Potter backs Edouard Mendy to come good and give him a selection headache when Kepa returns.
Graham Potter is adamant he is not using Sterling as a wing-back. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

It is understandable what Potter is trying to imply with regard to the Englishman’s positioning. The issue is that he did not have a pre-season with this group of players. So, any tweaks he makes during a season in an intense schedule will take some time to gel with the players.

Moreover, injuries have not helped. N’Golo Kante is a long-term absentee, while Reece James missing in the wing-back position is a huge loss. Now, the regular left-sided fullback Ben Chilwell is out due to a hamstring injury.

We all know how good Sterling is going forward. He was one of the finest goal-scorers in a Manchester City side that won multiple silverware in the last five years. But as Potter mentioned, he is not restricting the talent of the player by starting him as a wing-back positionally.

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It is good to see Potter placing the greater good of the team above one player’s potential preference or ego. Being a model professional throughout his career, fans can expect the England international to give it his all no matter where or how he is used on the pitch.