Jack Grealish Responds to Raheem Sterling’s Debut
Raheem Sterling endured a difficult start to his new chapter at Feyenoord.
His Eredivisie debut was far from the rebirth many had hoped for, and criticism quickly followed.
Amid the storm, however, a former teammate stepped forward. Jack Grealish publicly challenged the harshest critics and called for perspective.
A Debut Under the Microscope
Sterling joined Feyenoord in February after a prolonged period of struggles following his departure from Manchester City in 2022.
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His spell at Chelsea never lived up to expectations, and an unsuccessful loan move to Arsenal during the 2024/25 season reinforced the narrative of a player in decline.
In the weekend’s match against Telstar, he came off the bench in Feyenoord’s 2–1 victory at De Kuip. He played around 30 minutes in a game where the home side had already secured the lead.
His performance was subdued. According to SofaScore, he registered 17 touches, lost possession six times, and completed eight of his ten passes, earning a rating of 6.5.
The numbers suggest a player still searching for rhythm. Reactions on social media, however, were far harsher than the statistics warranted.
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A major Instagram account described the debut as catastrophic and questioned whether the 31-year-old winger’s time at the top level may be coming to an end.
Grealish Pushes Back
Jack Grealish, who shared several successful seasons with Sterling at Manchester City, responded firmly to the criticism. On social media, he distanced himself from the post and criticized its tone.
He pointed out that Sterling has neither played nor trained regularly for an extended period and urged people to show respect.
The statement reflects the strong bond formed during their time at City and an understanding of the challenges that come with changing clubs after a long absence.
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This is reported by GiveMeSport.
The Road Back
After the match, Sterling acknowledged that his sharpness is not yet where it needs to be. He emphasized that his focus is on rebuilding his form step by step and contributing to the team’s objectives.
He highlighted that securing a win in his debut was the most important thing.
There is still plenty of the season left in the Netherlands. Feyenoord gain a player with vast international experience, while Sterling gets the opportunity to restart his career in a new environment.
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One match and 30 minutes rarely tell the full story. Patience may prove to be a better judge than snap conclusions.
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