Ben Chilwell says Raheem Sterling has helped Chelsea on and off the pitch despite his unimpressive first campaign at Stamford Bridge.
Sterling has scored only four league goals for Chelsea since his £50million move from Manchester City last summer.
The England international netted 131 goals in 339 games at the Etihad, helping Man City win four Premier League titles, five League Cups and the FA Cup.
But Sterling has struggled to rediscover his best form in a Chelsea team who have slipped to 10th in the Premier League table – 11 points outside the top-four and 29 points behind leaders Arsenal.
As a result of Sterling’s poor form, he has been linked with an early exit from Stamford Bridge, although his agent recently dismissed claims he was looking to leave the Blues.
Chilwell shared a dressing room with Sterling for England before they teamed up at Chelsea and says the winger has been a key member of the club’s squad this season.
‘He’s a brilliant football player, so on the pitch we all kind of knew what we were getting,’ Chilwell told Parimatch when asked about Sterling’s impact at Chelsea.
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‘We knew he was going to impact our team with a lot of goalscoring opportunities, with goals and assists.
‘But of course, me and the boys who play at England know that in the changing room and around the training ground, he has a big impact.
‘Even though he’s still young, he’s very experienced, he’s played a lot of international football, he’s played a lot of club games in the Premier League.
‘He’s brought a lot of experience, which he’s using to help people across the team, especially the younger players.
‘He’s a good addition to the group in terms of his playing style and how he wants to affect the game. And then in the changing room as well, he’s brilliant.’
