Raheem Sterling may have gotten an assist against Leicester City, but his general performance in the FA Cup quarter-final clash was below par.
Arsenal legend Martin Keown, was on commentary duty for BBC Sport during the game, and he criticised Raheem Sterling for ‘pulling rank’ on Cole Palmer.
Firstly, Sterling took the ball off Palmer in the first half for the penalty, but played a tame penalty that was easily saved by the goalkeeper.
Chelsea had a free-kick from a promising position in the second-half. Sterling again took charge ahead of Palmer, as he skyrocketed a close-range free kick high and wide into the stand.
“That kind of says everything about the Chelsea performance today,” Keown said during commentary for BBC Sport.
“We’re all waiting to see Palmer there to maybe hit this into the back of the net, then we see this.
“That’s a ridiculous effort. Obviously Sterling is doing his best there but Cole Palmer has to take that, end of.
“You saw that with Cole Palmer not taking the free kick then you go back to the penalty where Sterling takes it, here again now Sterling is calling rank on a very talented player, but he’s a young player.”
Sterling was replaced by Noni Madueke in the 86th minute, and Keown concluded of his game: “A mixed day to say the least.
“I don’t think he should be pulling rank to take that penalty, I don’t think they’d be in this situation now.
“Then that free-kick he took was quite wild. Not the best day for Sterling.”