Thomas Tuchel backs Raheem Sterling during difficult period | OneFootball

Thomas Tuchel has offered support to Raheem Sterling as the winger endures the toughest spell of his career on and off the pitch. The England manager, who coached him at Chelsea, said it was painful to see his former player struggle.

According to Goal.com, Sterling pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, possessing nitrous oxide and failing to provide a specimen after a May incident that ended with his Lamborghini striking a metal gate.

He is disqualified from driving and will return to court on 25 November for sentencing.

Once a four-time Premier League winner across seven years at Manchester City, Sterling has struggled since leaving the Etihad. Underwhelming spells with Chelsea and Arsenal preceded a contract termination in January 2026, then a move to Feyenoord brought no goal contributions in eight appearances and he is now without a club.

Tuchel, who pushed to sign him for Chelsea in 2022, accepts the forward has found it hard to recover his City-level influence. He called the switch a big step and felt Sterling never quite showed his usual importance.

The German also lamented the off-field issues, describing Sterling as a devoted father and a positive presence, and said it seems he is in a difficult spiral. He added he is unsure how much is the player’s fault and expressed belief Sterling can still turn things around.

Sterling is staying active through his RS7 Academy. Any route back into the professional game is likely to depend entirely on the outcome of sentencing.

Source: Goal.com

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