Chelsea forward, Raheem Sterling, has revealed exactly what Mauricio Pochettino told him that has helped him restore confidence and revive his career.
The England international put up a man of the match performance in Chelsea’s win over Luton Town, scoring twice in front of Stamford Bridge supporters.
The 3-0 win over the Premier League newcomers, is the Blues’ first victory of the Mauricio Pochettino era.
Sterling(2) and Nicolas Jackson(1), were the scorers for Pochettino side in the game many believe would raise their confidence level for the challenges ahead.
The England star said that he had a conversation with Pochettino and the Argentine gaffer helped bring him back to his old self.
Under Pochettino, Sterling has looked reborn and he was keen to stress the impact his new boss has had in that.
“It was a bit of frustration from last season from myself personally because I felt like I was always coming with my back to goal. A bit deep and I wasn’t giving myself enough chances to get into the box,” he told Sky Sports.
“I had a conversation with the gaffer earlier last week and we’ve gone through the role and I know exactly what he needs from me and it’s as simple as that, I need to get on the back foot and do what I do and drive at players and get on it and that’s when I’m most effective.
“In the first game against Liverpool, I was inside the pocket a bit too much and that was my feeling last season when I was too deep playing balls with the full backs.
“We had a simple conservation and he [Pochettino] said, ‘Raheem it doesn’t matter where you play – as long as you apply it, are dynamic, then no-one can stop you, just be aggressive with the ball’. I’ve got the desire and hunger to do that.”