Sterling moved to Stamford Bridge from Manchester City in the summer where he had earned a reputation as one of the best forwards in the Premier League, scoring 131 goals and making 95 assists in seven seasons with the Citizens.
Capable of playing across the frontline, the England star’s best position was found to be on the left-wing and it was expected that he would occupy a similar role at Chelsea under Thomas Tuchel.
However, the arrival of Potter has changed all that, with the 27-year-old already utilised in a variety of different roles in the new manager’s first few games in charge.
This includes as a centre-forward, attacking midfielder, winger, and wing-back on both flanks – all of which have produced very mixed results.
For example, Sterling scored in Chelsea’s most-recent game against Dinamo Zagreb when he played up top, but he struggled to cope as a left wing-back against Brighton whom the Blues would lose 4-1 to.
‘If Graham Potter wants to get the best from Raheem Sterling, he has to play on the right or left of a three, that’s how Sterling was being used at a high level before at Liverpool and Manchester City,’ Gallas told Genting Casino.
‘He’s always played there. So for me it is difficult to understand why, sometimes, a manager wants to play players out of position.
‘After the Zagreb win, I think Potter has to play Sterling in a front three and not how he used him in the last match when he was playing wing-back.
‘It was very difficult for Sterling to play there. Play him in his position and let him do what he needs to do.’
Gallas, who won the Premier League twice with Chelsea, suggests that part of the reason why wing-back doesn’t suit Sterling is that the player isn’t aggressive enough, a problem that he thinks even the Blues’ current crop of defenders have.
‘During the 4-1 defeat, what I saw were some players being passive and not aggressive, especially at the back,’ he added.
‘For a team like Chelsea you can’t concede four goals like that, especially against Brighton. Even if we know Brighton are a good side, it doesn’t matter because when you represent a club like Chelsea players have to do more.
‘As a former player, I know sometimes that when you play every three days it can be difficult but you have show a strong mindset. You know it will be a difficult game, but you have to do the job and Chelsea didn’t do the job. They lost.’
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