Chelsea forward Raheem Sterling believes appointing Mauricio Pochettino last season would have helped the team during a difficult campaign.
The Blues endured a dismal season, finishing 12th in the Premier League under three separate managers in Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and then Frank Lampard, who took interim charge for the latter part of the campaign.
Pochettino was heavily linked with the job before Potter was appointed, before the club opted to place club legend Lampard in interim charge following Potter’s sacking to afford them more time to make a permanent appointment.
But Sterling, who is now heading into his second season as a Chelsea player, says he would have liked to have worked under Pochettino earlier on during his time at the club.
“When I first heard that he was going to be manager, it was exciting because of the many years we’ve played against his teams,” Sterling said.
“I know how difficult it is to play against his teams. They’re always resilient, always tough to play against.
“I know he will be a coach that will bring what we needed (last season).
“At certain times last year, to have someone like him to lead us in certain difficult situations I think would’ve been good, so I’m really optimistic about what he will bring.”
Several players have left Chelsea this summer following a transfer spend of more than £600m across the previous two windows, including Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic, Kai Havertz, Edouard Mendy, N’Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
And Sterling, who is among the most senior players in a young Chelsea squad, says he is looking forward to what the future holds.
“We were in a transition phase with a lot going on internally but that’s all in the past now and we want to look forward,” he said.
“We’ve had a lot of players going out. This is a younger squad, energetic and with a different dynamic and feel to it.”
