Tuchel expresses sympathy for struggling Sterling as winger runs youth academy without a club

Thomas Tuchel has offered public support for Raheem Sterling, saying the former England winger has been caught in a “downward spiral” since his peak years at Manchester City — as Sterling focuses on coaching youngsters through his own RS7 Football Academy while remaining without a club.

Sterling, 31, admitted dangerous driving and possession of a controlled substance in September after crashing his Lamborghini in May. He has been disqualified from driving ahead of a further court appearance on 25 November. The legal trouble follows brief, underwhelming spells at Arsenal and Feyenoord after Chelsea released him in 2024.

Tuchel, who signed Sterling for Chelsea from City in 2022 during his time as Blues manager, said he retains a great deal of affection for the winger. “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,” the England head coach 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.”

The German was candid about the personal dimension of Sterling’s difficulties. “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. “It just seems that he goes through a difficult period. I’m not sure how much is his fault — sometimes you just enter a strange spiral in your life, a downward spiral. Thoughts are with him, of course. The belief is always that he can turn it around and I wish him the best.”

Away from the headlines, Sterling has been putting in visible work at the RS7 Academy, which he originally set up to provide his young son with a training environment that emphasises personal development alongside technical skills. His social media pages show him running hands-on sessions teaching youngsters the fundamentals of the game.

The academy has attracted notable names, including former Premier League defender Ashley Cole, who has taken sessions there. RS7 has also recently partnered with UCFB (University Campus of Football), with plans to involve future university students in the programme.

Sterling’s career statistics underline how far he has fallen from his peak. He won four Premier League titles, five League Cups and the FA Cup at City, and scored 123 Premier League goals across his career. His 82nd and most recent England cap came at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.