Pundit Jeff Stelling has now been critical of a section of Chelsea fans who were in attendance at yesterday’s FA Cup tie with Leicester City.
He told TalkSPORT that he cannot work out why supporters at Stamford Bridge were keen to boo Raheem Sterling despite his woeful performance in the quarter-final yesterday.
Sterling had an afternoon to forget in West London despite the fact that the Blues booked another trip to Wembley with a 4-2 win.
Despite the two-goal half-time lead, there had been plenty of chances to make this more and put the tie to bed.
One of them was notably from the penalty spot, where usual taker Cole Palmer was nowhere to be seen in favour of his England teammate.
Stamford Bridge was certainly not a happy place when this happened, and even worse when his tame effort was saved.
Stelling after the game was quick to criticise the small minority of supporters he believes are booing Sterling at games.
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He said: “I don’t know. I’ve got no idea. Yeah he had a nightmare, but do you know what about Raheem Sterling? He missed a penalty and then missed a one-on-one. Does he hide? No he doesn’t, and then he immediately creates the goal for Cole Palmer that puts them two goals ahead.
“Nobody mentions that, it’s all about his misses. He never, ever stops trying his socks off, and I don’t know why you would boo – and by the way I think it’s just a minority of Chelsea fans – I don’t get why you’d boo your own player under any circumstances.”
Sterling’s replacement, Noni Madueke, found the net in stunning fashion late on, and surely put some thoughts into the mind of Mauricio Pochettino that he could have to make a change next time out.
One player who will not be out of his thinking is Palmer, who added another goal and assist to his name in what is turning out to be a sensational first campaign at Stamford Bridge.
