RAHEEM Sterling feels Chelsea finally got their just rewards after coming from behind to brush aside Burnley 4-1 at Turf Moor.
The big-spending Blues have endured a tricky start to life under Mauricio Pochettino where they haven’t always got what they deserved despite some impressive displays.
Yesterday’s demolition of the Clarets made it three wins on the spin ahead of a huge London derby with Arsenal after the international break.
And what made it even more impressive for Sterling, who played a key role in all four Chelsea goals, was the fact they didn’t panic once Wilson Odobert put the hosts ahead after quarter of an hour.
He told Chelsea TV: “It was a good team performance.
“We kept going, kept digging in and we got an important three points for the travelling fans.
“It was great at the end to go over with them and enjoy that little moment.
“We were unlucky to go behind again. We started the game well, as we have done on numerous occasions this season, but we didn’t rush when we went a goal behind. We still probed and took our chances.
“It has laid those foundations.
“The most important thing is being a collective and we were a collective today.
“We showed a togetherness today to go and get the equaliser and then go on and win the game.”
Sterling was back in the starting XI after coming off the bench in the second half to replace Armando Broja in last Monday’s 2-0 win at Fulham.
And the 28-year-old revelled back in his favoured left-wing position, first by providing the cross which went in via an own goal from Ameen Al-Dakhil just before the break.
Then he won the early second half penalty which was converted by Cole Palmer before making it 3-1 after being picked out by Conor Gallagher.
Sterling was involved in the move which wrapped up the points when his delivery to Palmer saw him set up Nicolas Jackson.
Asked if he could recall any other occasion he had played such a vital role in a four-goal haul, Sterling replied: “There’s been a few!
“But today was good as a collective because I think the most important thing is there have been a few times that we’ve gone behind where we started the game well and the game has sort of gone to pieces.
“Today we didn’t let that happen – we didn’t force things and that shows a sign of maturity.
“It is a step in the right direction.”
Chelsea now sit 11 th in the table with as many points going into the internationals, but the atmosphere is a lot better for everyone at the club following those back-to-back Premier League victories.
“I think when you win football matches the mood is always different,” said Sterling.
“I think that is all we’ve been asking for.
“We’ve had a few unlucky games that we should have come away with more but it is still early days and we are building, so that is the most important thing. Onwards and upwards.”
