Raheem Sterling did not celebrate after scoring for Chelsea during their 1-1 draw against former club Manchester City on Saturday, February 17, 2024.
Sterling scored the only goal for the Blues in the encounter, curling the ball around Ederson into the bottom far corner in the 42nd minute.
During the pre-match presser, Mauricio Pochettino had asked Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer to celebrate if they scored against the Cityzens at the Etihad.
The pair are former players of Manchester City, with Sterling joining Chelsea in the summer of 2022 for a fee of €56.2 million, while Cole Palmer moved to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2023 for a fee of €47 million.
Raheem Sterling, 29, was mobbed by his Chelsea teammates, who were more jubilant about going in front, however, the Englishman chose to remain calm on his return to his former hunting ground.
The winger was also booed by Manchester City supporters on his return to the team he played for from 2015 to 2022, before exiting the North of England for London.
Sterling's goal put Chelsea in a comfortable position going into the break, but the encounter culminated with both sides sharing the spoils after Rodri helped the Cityzens secure a point in the dying embers of the game.
Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer netted in the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge, which was a thrilling 4-4 draw.
The duo had a cold celebration after scoring in that game, obviously not to annoy fans of their former club.
Speaking ahead of the encounter against Manchester City on Saturday, February 17, 2024, Mauricio Pochettino said:
“If they celebrate, it's football. If they don't celebrate and want to show respect, OK, but I think when you score a goal you need to celebrate.
“You kill your former club and after you say "sorry". When you play for different shirts and badges and clubs, you cannot stop your feelings.
“When you score, it's the most beautiful feeling in your body and you cannot go, "Argh, no, I don't want to celebrate." You need to. You are now playing for another team.”
The Argentine tactician added that these players displayed their respect and played passionately whilst they were at their former club.
However, they are part of another history and as such, they have to celebrate, he said:
“You showed respect when you were there and you gave everything to the club and the badge and the people.
“But now you defend another shirt, you need to celebrate because you are part of another history.”
Chelsea return to action facing Liverpool on February 25, 2024, in the Carabao Cup final, an encounter against one of Raheem Sterling's former teams.
The Englishman spent some years in the youth setup at Liverpool before he graduated to the senior team and then represented Liverpool between 2012 and 2015.
Meanwhile, Sterling had made 69 appearances for Chelsea since his arrival in 2022, scoring 17 goals and providing 12 assists in all competitions.
Sterling scored the only goal for the Blues in the encounter, curling the ball around Ederson into the bottom far corner in the 42nd minute.
During the pre-match presser, Mauricio Pochettino had asked Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer to celebrate if they scored against the Cityzens at the Etihad.
The pair are former players of Manchester City, with Sterling joining Chelsea in the summer of 2022 for a fee of €56.2 million, while Cole Palmer moved to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2023 for a fee of €47 million.
Raheem Sterling, 29, was mobbed by his Chelsea teammates, who were more jubilant about going in front, however, the Englishman chose to remain calm on his return to his former hunting ground.
The winger was also booed by Manchester City supporters on his return to the team he played for from 2015 to 2022, before exiting the North of England for London.
Sterling's goal put Chelsea in a comfortable position going into the break, but the encounter culminated with both sides sharing the spoils after Rodri helped the Cityzens secure a point in the dying embers of the game.
Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer netted in the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge, which was a thrilling 4-4 draw.
The duo had a cold celebration after scoring in that game, obviously not to annoy fans of their former club.
Speaking ahead of the encounter against Manchester City on Saturday, February 17, 2024, Mauricio Pochettino said:
“If they celebrate, it's football. If they don't celebrate and want to show respect, OK, but I think when you score a goal you need to celebrate.
“You kill your former club and after you say "sorry". When you play for different shirts and badges and clubs, you cannot stop your feelings.
“When you score, it's the most beautiful feeling in your body and you cannot go, "Argh, no, I don't want to celebrate." You need to. You are now playing for another team.”
The Argentine tactician added that these players displayed their respect and played passionately whilst they were at their former club.
However, they are part of another history and as such, they have to celebrate, he said:
“You showed respect when you were there and you gave everything to the club and the badge and the people.
“But now you defend another shirt, you need to celebrate because you are part of another history.”
Chelsea return to action facing Liverpool on February 25, 2024, in the Carabao Cup final, an encounter against one of Raheem Sterling's former teams.
The Englishman spent some years in the youth setup at Liverpool before he graduated to the senior team and then represented Liverpool between 2012 and 2015.
Meanwhile, Sterling had made 69 appearances for Chelsea since his arrival in 2022, scoring 17 goals and providing 12 assists in all competitions.