Raheem Sterling says that a ‘back to basics’ approach has been the key to his brilliant form in 2014.
Speaking in the latest issue of the official Liverpool FC magazine, the 19 year old reveals that he lost his way due to ‘looking for the easy option’ and ‘worrying about making a mistake’.
"Maybe on the outside people had the impression I've always been really confident. But after a good start I started looking for easy options rather than taking a chance myself, beating a man, taking a shot on myself. I'd stopped being natural, all the things that I'd done which got me into the first team in the first place.
"You could look at the City goal as an example. I'm not trying to sound cheeky or over confident but three or four months ago I would have squared rather than take the responsibility all for myself.
Sterling burst onto the scene as a raw 17 year old and was a fixture in the side when Brendan Rodgers first took over, before a dip in form and an injury saw his progress stall somewhat in the second half of the season. Looking back on that time he admits that he may have fallen into the trap many young players do and started thinking he’d ‘made it’.
"My goal was always to play for Liverpool when I first came here and maybe for a while I thought that goal was achieved because I was one of the lucky ones to do it” he explained. “But you realise that is not enough. There always has to be the next challenge, to achieve things and win things - making your mark.
"From December time I realised I had to start stamping my personality, running with the ball, running into the box, making goals, scoring goals. Not playing with that barrier, not to be worried about making mistakes."
From that moment on the teenager hasn’t looked back, excelling in a variety of roles even including right back, and during the course of this season he’s shown there’s far more to his game than many - including even himself - had realised.
"Since coming here at 15, I was on the left," he said. "I only thought I could play left wing. But in the first team my best performances have probably been on the right or behind the strikers.
"I feel like I'm a different player now with more to offer. I realise too that playing in all positions has helped me this season. Being a No 10 is something I'd like to do more of in the future. It suits me."
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