Raheem Sterling's exciting Chelsea debut has been followed by his first interview since signing for the club nearly two weeks ago.
The winger was part of Thomas Tuchel's expansive playing squad that lost in a penalty shootout against Charlotte overnight, a game in which Sterling made his debut.
Wearing an iconic no.17 top for preseason, the 27-year-old was able to replicate some of the dazzling dribbles that Eden Hazard became known for wearing the same shirt. Albeit he only played 45 minutes, one of 10 halftime changes made by Tuchel in a bid to get his squad's match sharpness up, Sterling immediately became the Blues' most prominent attacker.
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Part of this might have been down to his already built up understanding with his England international teammates that also joined him on the pitch for the second half. Sterling has played matches for his country with Reece James, Conor Gallagher, Ben Chilwell, Mason Mount and Callum Hudson-Odoi, all of who were involved in Orlando.
Speaking about his introduction to the team, Sterling admitted that this familiarity has helped him: "It’s been a great first week," he said to the Chelsea website. "I’m really settling in and the boys have made me feel really welcome, it’s been a good first week."
With four Premier League titles to his name Sterling has joined the Blues as one of their most established players and is expected to set a world class example in order to raise the standards of those around him, especially in attack. This has excited fans as the forwards have failed to spark for a number of seasons now.
One player that will be hoping to learn from Sterling is Hudson-Odoi, and the pair have already hit it off in training: "A few of the boys from the national team, Mase [Mount], Chilly [Chilwell] to name a few, I’ve got a good connection with Callum [Hudson-Odoi] already.
"Playing against each other you always speak on matchdays and it’s been a group that is a feared unit. It was a good feel and they welcomed me really well and I feel at home already and I’m going to keep putting the work in, I can’t wait to gel even more with them."
Hudson-Odoi didn't get to spend any time on the pitch with his new teammate but given the overlap in a positional sense and their established friendship, it could be a relationship that blossoms.
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