Pundit slams referee for ‘ridiculous’ Raheem Sterling decision in Chelsea vs Wolves

Michael Brown critical of Raheem Sterling yellow card in 2-1 loss against Wolves

Not very long after Chelsea bit into Wolverhampton Wanderers’ two-goal lead through Christopher Nkunku, Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling was on the receiving end of a yellow card at the edge of the box. Sterling got the ball from Noni Madueke and drove into the box, going to the ground as Joao Gomes came across his path. The Chelsea man was booked for diving, which seemed a bit harsh, even if a penalty would have been the wrong call.

Razza‘s overall performance in the game was far from ideal as he missed quite a few chances to get a goal for the Blues, as did striker Nicolas Jackson, in what was potentially his poorest performance in a Chelsea shirt. Coming back to the yellow card incident, former Tottenham man, Michael Brown, on air for BBC at the time, criticised the referee’s decision to hand Sterling a caution for a potential ‘dive’ which had some contact in it.

“That’s a ridiculous decision from the referee. I don’t think that’s a yellow card for Sterling for simulation.”

This yellow card now takes Sterling‘s total count to five yellow cards which means he will remain unavailable for selection against Crystal Palace. With Cole Palmer also unavailable for selection against the Eagles for the same reason, it gives manager Mauricio Pochettino a headache in selection. Both players have been great contributors this season, and the starting XI against Palace will surely be intriguing.

Sterling, who boasts an impressive record of six goals and five assists in 21 appearances across all competitions this season, leaves a void in the attacking lineup. The winger’s absence, coupled with Palmer’s unavailability, places emphasis on Pochettino’s strategic choices and the adaptability of the squad.

As Chelsea move forward, the fallout from the Wolves clash raises questions not only about the yellow card decision but also about the team’s resilience in the face of challenging circumstances.

The Blues have to navigate through this period without two key contributors, but questions also arise about the broader implications for the team’s performance and tactical approach. Pochettino will need to formulate a strategy that maximizes the strengths of the available players while mitigating the impact of the absentees.

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Considering only Sterling and Palmer shall make way for other players, one could expect Mykhailo Mudryk to replace Sterling with either Noni Madueke or Christopher Nkunku taking charge instead of Palmer.