Mauricio Pochettino reacts after Chelsea star Raheem Sterling ignores order to celebrate against Man City | Football

The England forward scored the opening goal of the 1-1 draw between the two sides on Saturday evening.

Rodri rescued a point for the home side late on, but the result leaves the Citizens four points off Premier League leaders Liverpool, albeit with a game in hand.

Sterling is a City icon having played a key role in their success between 2015 to 2022, and, just like in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, his goal celebration was somewhat muted.

That’s despite Pochettino telling him he ‘needed to celebrate’ if he scored against City, with the the manager saying in his pre-match press conference: ‘You kill your former club and after you say “sorry”.

‘When you play for different shirts and badges and clubs, you cannot stop your feelings. You need to celebrate. You are now playing for another team.’

Though Pochettino did comment on this matter specifically, but had nothing but good things to say about Sterling in his post-match press conference: ‘It’s important, his experience and of course an offensive player needs to score to feel confidence and he was working really hard for the team.

‘He defended well, he was always in the right position to help the team when needing to make the effort, being in a position to help the defensive line and [Ben] Chilwell.

‘Yes, so important performance. So happy and he is helping to achieve a good point for us.’

Though still a good point away from home, Sterling himself was left disappointed wit the result that leaves Chelsea 10th and 14 points off the top four.

‘At the end we can be pleased, but at the same time we’re a little bit disappointed. We had chances to finish the game off,’ the 29-year-old said.

‘We knew they’re a team who use the ball really well and that there would be times when we need to use our brains. We’re disappointed not to come away with a bit more.’

Pochettino will be hoping that Sterling keeps up scoring against former clubs with the Blues taking on Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final next Sunday/

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