As one of the most experienced players in the Chelsea squad, Raheem Sterling is well-placed to analyse the progress being made under new head coach Enzo Maresca in pre-season.
Sterling is starting his third campaign as a Blue and featured prominently during our USA Tour, notably scoring a brilliant volley against his former club Manchester City.
That goal came during one of three defeats suffered in the States. Yet despite those results, Sterling has seen plenty of signs of promise in our young and exciting group.
‘He’s come in and stamped his authority with the way he wants to play,’ Sterling said of Maresca.
‘Yes, some of the results haven’t been pleasing to the eye, but with the ball the right information is getting passed on. You can see the patterns that are coming through. It’s early days but you can definitely see where we are looking to go and the way we are trying to play.
‘With this way in the early stages, mistakes are made. Some games it cost us, but the manager is highlighting what we can do better. It’s a learning process for the whole group and it’s one we are grasping really quickly.
'The Premier League is coming real soon and I do think it’s good times ahead.’
You can see Enzo Maresca's first game at Stamford Bridge this Sunday!
Sterling is desperate to contribute to those good times. He knows his experience can benefit the many young players in the group – and his longevity in the Premier League has taught him the key to success is collaboration.
If that teamwork can be achieved, and those Maresca principles executed in unison, anything is possible.
‘I’m focused on really trying to help the team in all the ways I can, not just on the ball but off the ball as well,’ said Sterling.
‘That’s very important as a collective. We need to do that to win football matches. We have got some great players and we just need to gel that all together. I do see great potential in the team.
'Yes, the group is young, but with the players we have we have to mature really quickly, and I think we are. At times you can see the good football we are playing, we just need to simplify certain things and the results will come our way to definitely compete.