WHEN Raheem Sterling was booed by Chelsea fans during a game in March, you could have forgiven him for trying to find a way out.
But Sterling is staying and the early signs under new boss Enzo Maresca are encouraging.
There may still be work to do to win over fans, given they turned on him so dramatically during that FA Cup victory last season.
It was not only his form that was picked out at times, but a perceived air of negativity on the pitch.
Those who have worked with him insist that is purely down to a will to win, something which has not faded despite winning four Premier League titles.
The truth is we are yet to see the best of him in a Chelsea shirt – two years on from his £47.5million move from Manchester – though there is hope that could now change.
Sterling feels comfortable and confident under Maresca and in his hopeful that will reflect in a significant step up in performances as he looks for a way back to his best and into the England squad.
The former Manchester City winger enjoyed working with Mauricio Pochettino but looks far more at home in a system similar to that in which he thrived at The Etihad.
His pre-season cannot be described as stellar, with just two starts and one goal, but he has improved the side coming off the bench in three other games and looked a real threat at times.
Maresca has been pleased with his work in training, both at Cobham and on tour, and the winger feels the Italian’s approach suits him.
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He said: “It gets the best out of me, best out of the team.
“He [Maresca] has come in and stamped his authority, the way he wants to play.
RAHEEM STERLING says he is looking forward to getting back into the England squad under a new manager.
The Chelsea winger, 29, has not played for the Three Lions since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar – when he left the camp to attend a family emergency before returning.
Injuries and form have limited his chances since then, with both sides insisting there were never any issues between Sterling and former England boss Gareth Southgate.
Sterling said: “If the opportunity comes round it is something that I’ve always dreamt of as a kid and managed to do it, had some great memories with the national team.
“You say it like I’m 38 or something!
“Football has different timings, there was a period with a lot of injuries and comebacks.
“It was a different part of my life. I am looking forward to getting back in the England setup that is for sure.”
The former Manchester City winger, who has 82 caps and 20 goals for his country, only watched England’s games during Euro 2024 as the Three Lions reached the final.
It was the first tournament Sterling had not been involved in since Euro 2012.
Asked if he had missed being a part of it, the winger added: “Of course, I love playing for England. It is one of the best feelings you can ever have.
“To see the boys out there brought me joy, to be honest they were the only games I watched – the England ones. I love playing for England.”
The FA are yet to appoint a successor to Southgate, though Under-21s boss Lee Carsley is in line to take charge in an interim role for the next camp in September.
“Yes, some of the results haven’t been pleasing on the eye but with the ball the right information is getting passed on, you can see the patterns that are coming through.
“It is early days, so you can see where we’re looking to go.”
Having continued to remain out of the England reckoning, Sterling had a full summer and pre-season to prepare.
There was a lot of time spent with family, who also joined him for parts of Chelsea’s American tour, before being in on day one under Maresca.
The two never crossed paths at City, but the winger is said to be enthused by the new manager’s early sessions, especially the amount of work players get to do with a ball at their feet.
He added: “Despite the results, you can see the way we are trying to play and with this way, in the early stages, mistakes are made and in some games it costs us.
“But the manager is highlighting what we can do better.
“It is a learning process for the whole group and one we are grasping really quickly. The Premier League is coming along very soon so I do think it is good times ahead.”
Chelsea staff have been impressed by Sterling’s focus during pre-season and the efforts he has made to help younger players learn quickly.
A number of younger players have name-checked Sterling as a big influence and support.
He was not a key figure in reconciling the squad following Enzo Fernandez’s racism scandal and return in Atlanta, but still wanted to make certain Chelsea were not knocked off course.
While others held meetings with Fernandez and decided the best way forward, Sterling ensured there was still a focus on performances and training within the group.
He said: “I am focused on trying to help the team in all the ways I can, on and off the ball that is important as a collective.
“Attacking wise we have some great players and we need to gel that together.
“I do see great potential within the team. The group is young but with the players we have we have to mature really quickly, which we are.
“You can see the good football we are playing at times and we need to simplify certain things and the results will come our way to compete.”
ENZO MARESCA is considered among the most exciting young coaches on the planet.
Born in Italy in 1980, he managed to guide Leicester to the Championship title in his first season as Foxes boss.
His management career started at Italian minnows Ascoli before he was snapped up by Man City in 2020 to manage their Elite Development Squad.
He guided the youth team to the Premier League 2 title in his one season working for the Citizens – with Cole Palmer in the side.
His first senior job was with Parma but he was sacked after just a few months after failing to impress.
Despite the team playing in Serie B and Maresca having an impressive squad he was unable to get them on course for promotion.
He returned to Man City and worked as one of Pep Guardiola’s assistants for the 2022/23 season as they won the Treble.
He took over relegated Leicester last summer and made an immediate impact, with the Foxes winning the Championship title.
Maresca showed his dedication to the job by living at the training ground for the first two months after his appointment.
He’s considered something of a Pep disciple and has said: “For a coach, it’s important to have the mentality of a chess player.”
During his playing career he played under Carlo Ancelotti and Marcello Lippi – and alongside ex-Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi.
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