Tuchel expresses sympathy for free-agent Sterling amid legal troubles and career decline

Thomas Tuchel has spoken openly about his concern for Raheem Sterling, saying the former England winger appears to be going through ‘a downward spiral’ after a career that has unravelled sharply since his peak years at Manchester City.

Sterling, 31, admitted dangerous driving and possessing nitrous oxide last month following a Lamborghini crash in May. He has been disqualified from driving and is due back in court on 25 November. He is currently without a club after a short-term spell at Feyenoord — signed by manager Robin van Persie — yielded no goals or assists in eight appearances.

“I have a lot of sympathy for him and I feel that he has struggled ever since he left Man City and he was at the peak of his career,” Tuchel said. “I was fighting for this transfer and he could never prove the importance that he normally had. It was a big step for him at that moment in time.”

Tuchel brought Sterling to Chelsea in the summer of 2022, but the winger never rediscovered the form that made him one of the Premier League’s most dangerous attackers. Spells at Arsenal and Feyenoord followed without success, and Sterling has not represented England since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar — his 82nd and most recent cap.

The England manager was careful not to apportion blame, acknowledging that circumstances can conspire against even the most accomplished players. “It’s sad to see that someone struggles because he was a devoted father for his children and he was a family guy, a nice guy to be around,” Tuchel added. “I’m not sure how much is his fault — sometimes you just enter a strange spiral in your life. Thoughts are with him, of course. The belief is always that he can turn it around and I wish him the best.”

Across a career that took in Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal, Sterling scored 123 Premier League goals and collected four top-flight title medals. He has spent part of this summer running his own RS7 Academy while he remains a free agent.