Chelsea manager Graham Potter has admitted that Raheem Sterling's time with the London club has been 'challenging' following his summer arrival from Manchester City.
Sterling signed for Chelsea from the Blues in July in a deal worth £47.5m - agreeing a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge with the option of a further 12 months. The attacker became the first signing of the Todd Boehly era following the takeover.
City signed Sterling from Liverpool in a £49m deal in 2015. He went on to register 131 goals and 95 assists in 339 games, winning four Premier League titles. However, he had just one year left on his deal with the Blues and was keen for a new challenge after spending seven seasons with the Manchester club.
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Since arriving at Stamford Bridge, Sterling has struggled for consistent form and has scored just six goals in 21 appearances in all competitions. The 28-year-old was impressive for England at the World Cup in Qatar, and found the back of the net in Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest in midweek.
Potter admitted that it has been difficult for Sterling to have the desired impact at Stamford Bridge after being signed by former manager Thomas Tuchel, but backed the Three Lions star to continue improving.
"It’s been a challenge for him but it’s been a challenging period for everybody," Potter said during his press conference. "There’s been a lot of change and a lot has happened, so in that regard, it’s not easy to completely settle or hit the ground running.
"There is more to come from Raheem I’m sure but he gives his best every day and we need to help him get to the level we know he can reach."
The Chelsea boss also spoke about the respect he has for City manager Pep Guardiola, with the pair spending time talking to each other after the Blues' Carabao Cup win over the London outfit in November.
Potter suggested that there is a 'general level of respect' for his sides and that Guardiola understands the pressure that football managers are under.
"I think if you did the research on football – and not just Pep, other people in the game who’ve played against my teams and watched the work I’ve done – there is a general level of respect," Potter stated. "There is certainly from my perspective to him because he is a fantastic person but also because of what he has achieved as a football and coach. It’s amazing."
When asked if the Catalan coach had been encouraging him, he added: "No, it was more a general football conversation. He understands the challenges we have here and he is facing similar ones himself. It was just a conversation after a game that you have. I spoke with Steve [Cooper] after the game and it was a similar conversation.
"It’s nice the managers can speak because it’s complicated when you’re on the touchline, there are emotions and we’re fighting for the points. But after it is nice to speak and talk about the game."
City face off against Chelsea twice in the space of three days - with the first match coming in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night.
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