Chelsea boss Graham Potter has defended Raheem Sterling's poor run of form ahead of the World Cup, saying he has no doubts over a "proven top, top player".Sterling, a key member of England’s strikeforce, is expected to be named in Gareth Southgate’s Qatar-bound squad on Thursday.But the former Manchester City forward has struggled to flourish since his summer switch to Stamford Bridge, first under Thomas Tuchel and now Potter.The 27-year-old has scored just twice since Potter’s arrival on 8 September, and not at all in the Premier League."You can tell by his reaction he is honest," Potter said ahead of Chelsea’s third-round Carabao Cup trip to Manchester City on Wednesday."Players go through moments in their career when it isn’t so positive and sometimes everything they touch is gold."I don’t think you can zoom in to the individual.
The team is not functioning as I would like."That has an impact on the individuals and Raheem is an individual within the team.
The work for us is to try to improve the team and the structures."I have no doubts about Raheem’s quality and ability – he is a proven top, top player."Sterling scored three times before Potter’s arrival from Brighton, with his last Premier League goal coming in a 2-1 defeat at Southampton on 30 August.Chelsea have lost their last two Premier League games – their first defeats under Potter – and have not won in four in the competition.Potter said: "It’s been a tough period.
Lots of things happening, lots of transition, lots of change."New faces in the dressing room, new faces everywhere. Trying to get it all to gel, settle down and develop a playing style."We’ve got a lot of work to do in terms of that.