Chelsea faced a challenging match where, despite Thiago Silva’s late consolation goal, Cunha’s second-half hat-trick added to their woes. Pochettino, already under pressure, witnessed growing impatience from Chelsea fans, particularly directed at Raheem Sterling.
Having joined from Manchester City for £45 million eighteen months ago, Sterling has failed to impress in the Chelsea jersey, causing frustration among supporters. During the Sunday match, with 20 minutes left, fans expressed their disappointment when Sterling was substituted. The discontent peaked as a portion of the home crowd jeered at him, emphasizing their expectations from one of the team’s highest-paid players.
Sterling’s missed opportunity earlier in the second half, pulling his low drive wide of the goal, added fuel to the fans’ dissatisfaction. Social media became a platform for fans to vocalize their discontent, with comments describing Sterling as “terrible” and even calling for him to leave the club. One fan on X wrote, “For the club’s most paid player, he deserves that,” while another insisted, “He needs to leave my club.”
The negative response continued on social media, where Sterling was labeled “insignificant” by some fans. The general sentiment among supporters was clear: expectations were high for a player of Sterling’s caliber, and the disappointment with his performance was palpable.
As Chelsea grapples with on-field challenges, the scrutiny on key players intensifies. Pochettino finds himself navigating not only the pressure on the team but also the discontent of fans, especially towards Sterling. The match and its aftermath have become a focal point for discussions on Chelsea’s performance, player expectations, and the future of key individuals within the squad.
