Raheem Sterling has revealed that he was "fuming" and "raging" towards the end of his Manchester City career, with the attacker opening up on his reasons for leaving the Citizens over the summer.
The 27-year-old spent seven seasons with Man City, making 339 appearances in all competitions, winning four Premier League titles, one FA Cup and five EFL Cups.
Sterling was again a regular for Pep Guardiola's side during the 2021-22 campaign, making 47 appearances, contributing 17 goals and nine assists in the process.
However, he found it difficult to secure starts in the latter stages of the team's Champions League campaign, and the England international has admitted that he was unhappy towards the end of his time at the club.
"Everyone wants to feel wanted, football is no different," Sterling told Sky Sports News. "When you play your heart out, sacrifice some of your kids' birthdays, and then get treated in a certain way, it's disappointing.
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"At the time I was fuming, raging, but it's gone, it's in the past and I can only focus on the present, which is now, here at Chelsea, and the opportunity I've got here to go out and showcase my talents once again.
"Misunderstandings, contracts running down (factors in him leaving). It was a shame to see how it ended in the end because I had such a great time there.
"A lot of things came into play, a lot of reasons, but I wasn't complaining, I was ready to challenge and, as you can see, even with some of the performances I put in, you couldn't guarantee yourself a place so it just didn't make sense to fight a battle you can never win.
"As a player you always want to do your best and help your team, but when you don't think things are going fairly, it's always a disappointment.
"If you are not happy playing your football you've got to look at other options to get that happiness back, and that's exactly what I have done. It was the right time for me to move on. I wouldn't stay part of something I knew I couldn't give my all in.
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"It [City] is a fantastic club, it's a club that wins lots of trophies, it's a club that has helped my development massively in the past couple of years, but there comes a time when you've got to think about yourself, what's best for yourself, and what you want for the future. That's the sole reason why I am here [at Chelsea].
"It was their intent, how they approached me. I wasn't listening to promises, I was seeing action and I think that was one of the factors that made me really consider the football club, the way they showed me how important a role I could have here.
"Looking back on what they have achieved here in the last couple of years, the finals they missed out on, the new owner taking over, it's a team that is always competing on all fronts and I knew it would only get better. I didn't need to make another choice.
"It was a possibility I wouldn't let pass. It's a blessing in disguise, it's another challenge and a challenge I'll look back on at the end of my career and know I stepped up to the plate and I can be happy with myself.
"The most part was just getting to play football week in, week out. It was the first time in my career experiencing that, it was kind of a shock, so I just wanted to get back playing and enjoying my football again. It was as simple as that, and I knew that once I could do that, I could be happy and show that on the field."
Sterling, who penned a five-year deal with the Blues upon his arrival, has started both of Chelsea's Premier League matches against Everton and Tottenham Hotspur this season.
Matt Law
