FORMER Chelsea winger Pat Nevin praised “classy” Raheem Sterling for something the Blues attacker did despite being booed by his own supporters last weekend.
Nevin admitted Sterling had an “awful game” but he pointed out the England international acknowledged that when he applauded the home fans at Stamford Bridge when he was taken off in the 4-2 FA Cup quarter-final win against Leicester City last weekend.
Sterling’s troubles started when he took the ball from regular penalty-taker Cole Palmer and then saw his effort from twelve yards saved by goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk.
Sterling then missed a good chance when through and in the second half skied a free-kick off-target to further anger Chelsea fans.
Sterling was taken off for Noni Madueke by boss Mauricio Pochettino four minutes from time with the score at 2-2 after the hosts had blown a 2-0 lead.
Another substitute, Carney Chukwuemeka, scored in the 92nd minute before Madueke fired a stunner into the top corner in the 98th minute as the Blues went through.
Nevin was writing about Sterling’s performance and the reaction of Chelsea fans in his BBC Football Extra newsletter this week.
”Chelsea got through to the semi-final, but it was the whole melodrama surrounding Raheem Sterling that will live long in the memory, for good and ill,” Nevin said.
”He had an awful game which can happen to anyone. Missing a penalty that he clearly shouldn’t have taken off Cole Palmer in the first place annoyed the Blues fans.
“Then a few more missed chances were followed by an effort from a free-kick that was so awful and so high over the bar it would have been funny, except it was getting a bit ugly by then.
”The Chelsea fans were openly booing their own highest-paid player.
”Eventually Mauricio Pochettino got the message and removed the former England international.
”To makes things worse for Sterling, his replacement Noni Madueke waltzed on and pinged a worldie into the top corner to seal the game.
“As Sterling trudged off however he clapped the Chelsea fans, almost as if to say, “I know I had a bad one and I get your frustration with me’.
“Within seconds the vast majority of Chelsea fans were applauding him. It was a classy moment from Raheem when it could have gone very wrong and could have had long-term negative ramifications. It’s best just to remember his assist for Cole Palmer’s goal and the fact that they got through.
“If Chelsea get to the final Raheem might even score the winner and it will all be so much water under Stamford Bridge, he will certainly hope so.”
Sterling had apologised to supporters on Instagram after the game. He wrote: “To all the Chelsea fans, apologies for the penalty miss. I’ll be back 10x times stronger to help the team win and continue to keep fighting for the badge every single day.”
