He didn’t score in any of the seven matches England played
Raheem Sterling’s performances at this World Cup received mixed reviews. Many people were very critical of his failure to score a goal, while others highlighted his contribution to the team’s victories with his runs in behind and short passing that helped link the midfield and attack.
José Mourinho was certainly in the critical camp, as he showed while speaking as a pundit on Russia Today on Saturday. The Manchester United boss was not impressed by Sterling’s performances and does not believe he should have started in the third place play-off between England and Belgium.
“He didn’t have a good enough World Cup to be chosen for a match ahead of [Jamie] Vardy, [Danny] Welbeck, [Marcus] Rashford – people with probably better condition from a physical and psychological point of view,” Mourinho told RT.
Marcus Rashford was brought on for Sterling in the second half of the game and looked more threatening, but Vardy and Welbeck didn’t get on.
Mourinho also expressed sympathy with England’s back-up goalkeepers, neither of whom played a minute at the tournament, even in the third place play-off.
“I think also for a second goalkeeper to feel I didn’t even play in the third match of the group phase, I’m not playing in the third vs fourth match, when can I play,” Mourinho said. “I think it’s quite frustrating for a guy like Butland or Pope.”
