Todd Boehly, co-owner of Chelsea, stepped into the dressing room following a defeat last season, delivering a motivational speech to the team while also singling out Raheem Sterling for criticism.
According to The Telegraph, this dressing room debrief occurred after Chelsea’s home loss to Brighton in April 2023.
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During Frank Lampard’s tenure as manager, the Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat to the Seagulls at Stamford Bridge, despite initially taking the lead with a goal from Conor Gallagher.
Boehly expressed dissatisfaction as the season was dwindling to an unsatisfactory conclusion under Lampard, whom he criticized as “embarrassing” during his impassioned address in the dressing room.
The American then directed his frustration towards Sterling, emphasizing his expectations for higher performance and leadership commensurate with his esteemed status as a world-class player.
Having transferred to Stamford Bridge from Manchester City in the summer of 2022 for £50m, the 29-year-old has not consistently showcased his world-class abilities.
Despite his arrival, the England forward only managed to score six Premier League goals in his debut season with the Blues and has added five goals to his tally in the current campaign.
With 82 caps for his country and a background of winning four Premier League titles with Manchester City, Sterling’s output falls short of the Chelsea hierarchy’s aspirations.
Boehly had placed considerable faith in the former Liverpool player by making him the club’s highest earner, with Sterling earning over £300,000-a-week.
However, Sterling has been overshadowed this season at Chelsea by another acquisition from Manchester City, as Cole Palmer, despite his lesser experience and reputation, has already scored 10 goals in the top flight.
