Raheem Sterling
Raheem Sterling made his much-anticipated debut for Robin van Persie’s side, but the former Chelsea forward struggled to make an impact against Eredivisie outfit Telstar. Sterling, who had been training alone for months in west London, faced a wave of social media criticism following his performance. Despite the backlash, Jack Grealish came to his defense, highlighting the challenges Sterling faced in regaining match fitness.
Jack Grealish said: “What a f***ing stupid Instagram post. Man, what’s wrong with you guys? [The] Guy hasn’t played or trained for so long. People like you guys are what’s wrong with the world. Have some respect.”
To facilitate Sterling’s integration into the squad, Van Persie temporarily relocated Feyenoord’s training to Belgium due to initial work permit issues in the Netherlands. Sterling was introduced from the bench during Feyenoord’s 2-1 victory, where Anis Hadj-Moussa scored twice. Van Persie acknowledged the time Sterling would need to regain full match sharpness.
Robin van Persie said: “Raheem trained last Tuesday, for the first time with the group. When you see the choices he makes in small moments, how quickly he thinks and switches, you see that other players also see it and respond to it. That’s how it works. You also want to show each other that you’re good too. That was evident in those training sessions. In my opinion, he’s a player of exceptional quality.”
Van Persie further elaborated on Sterling’s progress, noting the positive signs in training sessions and the need for caution as he works towards playing a full 90 minutes. The former Arsenal and Manchester United striker expressed optimism about Sterling’s potential impact once he regains full fitness.
Robin van Persie said: “He showed that in those training sessions. I enjoyed seeing that, and so did his teammates. How match-fit are you after not playing for six months? It depends on how he gets through tomorrow. That looks positive. But we have to be careful with him. We’ll talk to Raheem about that. He needs some time to be able to play 90 minutes. That won’t be Sunday and it won’t be next week either. But we’ll try to get there as soon as possible.”
Sterling’s return to competitive football is a gradual process, and both Van Persie and Grealish have emphasized the importance of patience and understanding. As Sterling continues to build his fitness, the support from his teammates and management will be crucial in his journey back to top form.
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