2 years ago
Raheem Sterling says he is happy to continue playing as a false nine if Thomas Tuchel feels it is the most effective position for Chelsea - although he is still seen primarily as a winger.
The 27-year-old joined Stamford Bridge in the summer for £47.5m from reigning Premier League champions Manchester City.
He started his career flawlessly at the west London club when Chelsea secured a 1-0 away win over Everton in the first game of the new Premier League season with a Jorginho penalty.
As he had often done in previous seasons, Sterling led the line at Goodison Park as a false nine - a role he has also occasionally filled under Pep Guardiola at City. Chelsea, of course, lacks a traditional striker after loaning Romelu Lukaku and selling Timo Werner, and Sterling may need to adjust to leading the way, although he prefers to play on the wings.
When asked which role he would choose at a press conference on Thursday, he replied: "As you all know, my position is mainly as a winger.
"Sometimes I like to float and hold the ball." But I always judge myself by how effective I am in the game, so it depends on where I'm going to be most effective at the moment.
"The last game against Everton I played from the wrong nine and once again I am happiest where I can be effective and help my team."
Chelsea is believed to be working on a deal to sign Barcelona frontman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who previously worked under Tuchel at Borussia Dortmund. Sterling, meanwhile, has scored double-digit goals in the Premier League over the past five seasons, although his new manager wants him to be a bigger goal threat and presence, especially in the penalty area.
Asked about his conversation with Tuchel and what the Chelsea boss wanted from him, Sterling said: "What he said to me was just my bluntness, always threatening at the back. I didn't always want to come in, I came in from behind.
"But the most important thing is how I attack the box and with the full-backs, we have here, he said it was [something] he wanted to see more of. So that's the point of our conversation.
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