Chelsea forward Raheem Sterling says a lack of game time under Pep Guardiola led him to seek a new challenge where he can become a “more vocal leader” like former mentor Steven Gerrard.
The 27-year-old made the £47.5million switch to Stamford Bridge this summer and, in his first comments to media since the switch, has explained how Chelsea made him feel wanted after he was increasingly pushed into a role he simply “wouldn’t accept” at Manchester City.
The emergence of Phil Foden, alongside big-money arrivals Riyad Mahrez, Bernardo Silva and, last summer, Jack Grealish for £100m meant Sterling’s minutes were being reduced. The arrival of Erling Haaland only exacerbated the situation.
"I felt my game time at City was getting limited for different reasons and I couldn't afford to waste more time," Sterling said on Thursday at Cobham Training Centre. "When I look back in the future, I never wanted to look back and see a rise then a decline.
"So my feeling was I needed to keep at the same level and a fresh challenge was needed. Since I was 17, I've been a regular starter and to get to the peak time in my career, not to be playing regularly was something I wouldn't accept.
"My personality is to try to fight and change the scenario but it didn't come and that was it. With the few other options I had, this one was more tailor-made for my personal goals.
"For my family, it makes a lot of sense and with the direction, the club is going in. If you look at Chelsea in the last couple of years, I think it's four of five finals they've been in, it's a team that is competing and is only going to get better.
“Of course, with the time I spent at City, there were a lot of memories and top moments. But the year and a bit I was out of the team taught me a lot about myself and made me value a lot of things and try to get them in order.
"A lot of things happen for a reason and I kept with that mentality. It was difficult, my kids went to school there and my son is missing his friends. But in life, you have to make decisions that are best for yourself and your family.
"So for me, with the new ownership and takeover, it made a lot of sense. I feel like it's my full journey. Going up to Liverpool and manifesting what I wanted, going to City and living the dream, and now coming back to London as a grown adult, being in the football game and I feel like I've got my head on my shoulders.
"I know exactly what I what from my life and football. So it's a perfect time to have a new challenge."
Sterling is among a group of captains for England, after first-choice Harry Kane, and wants to continue helping younger players improve, just as Gerrard did for him both at Liverpool and at international level.
Thomas Tuchel marked Sterling out as his number one target for attack over the summer and Sterling wants to take that responsibility and become a leader for his new club.
“I’ve been given this chance to come and showcase my talents and it’s one, having grown up a bit in terms of off the field and inside the changing room and around the club, it’s a developing side of me I want to see more," he added.
"I want to be more involved in dressing-room decisions, being more vocal and trying to drive the team on.
Adding: "It’s good to try to nurture younger people in whatever profession it is. You don’t want a hostile environment for them to come into, you want it to be one they can flourish.
"When I was young, I had someone like Steven Gerrard around me. When I went into the national team, he had his arm around me and that makes you a lot more relaxed around the camp so you can do your best. That’s all I ever try to do. Have jokes and laugh but at the same time get the work done and feel comfortable.”
