https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2021/07/23/
dujon-sterling-on-competing-with-the-best-and-coming-back-strong
Dujon Sterling discusses competing with the best and coming back stronger
than ever
23 Jul 2021
Dujon Sterling explains how the encouragement he received from the Chelsea
coaches helped him return from a serious injury a better player and why he
has enjoyed competing with world-class team-mates in pre-season.
https://i.imgur.com/jaSRdSO.jpg
The young defender was part of Thomas Tuchel's travelling squad for the
trip to Ireland and is delighted to be back doing full training in
pre-season, having missed a year of football due to a hamstring injury
picked up on loan at Wigan Athletic, before returning to action with the
Chelsea development squad during the second half of last term.
'I've been back playing since February,' explained Sterling. 'It had been
a long time without actually playing and even training competitively, so
it's good to be back. I'm really happy.
https://i.imgur.com/lnIEsqT.jpg
Sterling has enjoyed testing himself against Champions League winners at
Chelsea
'I got about 10 Premier League 2 games under my belt just before last
season ended, so that was a good run-out, but obviously not at the level
of training and playing with the first team here.'
Despite those development squad appearances, he admits he is still on his
way back to full match fitness after such a long absence – that is what
pre-season is for, after all.
However, during that long road to recovery following his injury, the
21-year-old wasn't just waiting until he could kick a ball again, having
been encouraged by the coaches at Chelsea to make the most of his time out
by working to improve in other areas.
'I'm still working on getting back to the fitness levels I had before, but
I feel like I'm physically stronger than I was before I got injured. More
powerful, stronger, quicker, so in that aspect it's been good, now it's
just about playing games.
https://i.imgur.com/g8Qf3RP.jpg
On the ball against Pulisic during the training game in Ireland
'I've been working on those things with the coaches at Chelsea and even in
the gym by myself when I'm away from the club. I've been putting in the
work to get stronger, because I know where I need to be at to be able to
compete at first-team level.
'It was an encouragement to me for the coaches to say “take every moment
as a chance to improve yourself” and “don't dwell on the things you're
not able to do”.'
Of course, there is no better way to develop match fitness than taking on
some of the best players around on the pitch, which is exactly what
Sterling was doing when the Chelsea squad split into two teams for a
training game in Ireland on Thursday.
For much of that 1-1 draw in Dublin, Sterling found himself directly
facing off against Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech, as well as linking
up with his old Academy team-mate Callum Hudson-Odoi on the wing for their
goal, and says it was exactly the kind of challenge he needed.
'When you come up against top players, world-class players, Champions
League winners, that's how you want to be tested, to have the chance to
compete at that level. I thought I did well, especially against Christian!
Personally, it was just good to get the run out and keep building up
fitness.
https://i.imgur.com/58lUv45.jpg
Sterling and Hudson-Odoi know each other well from their time in the Academy
'It was good playing with Callum, I gave him a little assist as well. It
was good especially because we played with each other a lot coming up
through the age groups so we know each other's games really well and the
timing of when to run, when to play it, so the movement is just natural to
us now.'
Sterling also feels he is benefitting a lot from training under Tuchel
over the last couple of weeks, as well as enjoying the brand of football
the German encourages his team to play.
'I've learned a lot, especially about how the gaffer works and what his
footballing philosophies are. It's good to get that into my brain and try
to implement it into my game as well. Obviously it's something new for me
that I've never experienced before, because every manager is different. I
think the way that he plays suits me a lot and I like his style of play.'