Chelsea winger, Raheem Sterling, has recently expressed high praise for one of his former Manchester City teammates, John Stones. The £50 million defender was named by Sterling as one of the best players he has ever played with.
Sterling spent seven years at Manchester City, playing and training alongside several football legends. Despite having played with top players at Liverpool and Chelsea, it was during his time at Man City that he encountered a squad filled with world-class performers.
As he prepares to enter his third season as a Chelsea player, Sterling hopes to help Enzo Maresca’s side qualify for the Champions League in the upcoming campaign.
The impact of John Stones
Among the many brilliant players that Sterling had the honour of playing with, John Stones stands out. Their partnership was key to Manchester City’s success over the years — especially during the 2017/2018 season where their side accumulated an impressive 100 points.
Stones formed an incredible defensive partnership with Nicolas Otamendi — resulting in their team conceding only 27 goals in 38 games. Meanwhile, Sterling had one of his best seasons ever — scoring 18 goals and providing 11 assists in Premier League matches alone.
In all competitions combined, Sterling registered a total of 23 goals and made13 assists - an impressive tally by any standards.
Sterling’s dream five-a-side
When asked to name a five-a-side team from among his best-ever teammates during an interview with Fubo TV, without hesitation or doubt, Sterling picked Stones along four other players he played alongside at Etihad Stadium.
Chelsea winger, Raheem Sterling, said:
‘‘Yeah no goalkeeper. John Stones at back then I’d go [Steven] Gerrard, Kevin De Bruyne David Silva and [Sergio] Aguero.”
Stones' selection by Sterling is understandable considering his crucial role in Manchester City’s title triumphs in 2018, 2021 and 2022. Sterling must appreciate how much Stones contributed to the Sky Blues and English footballing folklore.
For England as well, while Sterling and Stones did not win a major trophy, they did reach the Euro final in 2020 and the 2018 World Cup semi-final — stages several players are yet to partake in. Given Stones' sublime technique, intelligent reading of the game at the back and ability to play in tight spaces, it's clear why he was chosen by Sterling for his five-a-side team. His skills make him an ideal player for such games - a testament to his overall talent on the pitch.
