• Premier League

Chelsea didn't believe in me - Sturridge

ESPN staff
February 4, 2014
ESPN FC discusses Liverpool's top four chances this season


Daniel Sturridge believes his form this season is down to being played in a central attacking role by Brendan Rodgers and has hit out at Chelsea for not having faith in him as a striker.

Sturridge played under four different managers in his time at Stamford Bridge and was regularly used as a makeshift winger - but has scored 28 goals in 35 games since moving to Liverpool in January 2013.

From Russia with gloves

Speed skaters limber up for Socchi © Getty Images
  • Our regular trip back in Week in Pictures find it's a winter wonderland for some, while the world's golfers and tennis players seek warmer climes and Jose Mourinho seeks divine intervention
  • Click here for all the week's best images

Speaking to The Anfield Wrap, Sturridge, who notched his 17th of the season in the 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, said: "I was never sure if I'd play as a striker [at Chelsea] because people didn't believe in me.

"I was often asked to play in a different position and to do a job for the team but, having been a striker and then being asked to just flick a switch and play on the wing was always going to be difficult because mentally you're going to play the way you always have and I play on instinct.

"I think that now I'm just playing the way that I did as a kid but I'd never had the chance to do that. When I was playing as a winger at Chelsea I was overthinking it because I wasn't used to doing it.

"It's about that split second when you have to decide whether you do this or do that whereas now I'm just playing on instinct.

"I'm just doing the natural thing, playing my natural game and doing things off the cuff. Like the goal against Aston Villa, it happened so fast that I had to watch a video of it afterwards to see what I'd done."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
ESPN staff Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices