England manager Gareth Southgate has claimed that Raheem Sterling was left unhappy with the recent announcement he has made of the national team squad.
The manager told journalist James Olley that the Chelsea player is frustrated at the decision given the impressive start that he has made to the domestic campaign.
Today was the day where Southgate made the call over who would represent their country in the next set of international fixtures.
The break comes after the next Premier League weekend, meaning Chelsea will have played four games before their campaign is temporarily put on pause.
Three current Blues were named in the side by the manager. Ben Chilwell, Conor Gallagher, and Levi Colwill were all selected.
One player who wasn’t though was Sterling, and this has come as a surprise to many.
Southgate has annoyed Sterling
Given the time of this international break, it is believed that the beginning to the domestic season will play a big part in the decision making.
If that was the case, it is difficult to see why Sterling will not have been selected as a member of the squad.
He has two goals and an assist to start the campaign, as well as comfortably being Chelsea’s best player of the campaign.
Southgate has acknowledged that it was a difficult call to leave him out, however backs up the decision he has made.
He said: “He was not available for the last two and that’s given other people the opportunity to play well and establish themselves. It is a difficult call and Raheem is not particularly happy about it but I understand that.”
Sterling will now be fully focused on maintaining his good form for his club, which has been greatly appreciated by manager Mauricio Pochettino.
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