Chukwuemeka tells fans to keep faith in ‘big brother’ Chelsea ace

Carney Chukwuemeka says his “big brother” Raheem Sterling can handle the negative reactions from Chelsea fans.

But the 20-year-old midfielder wants everyone to come together at Stamford Bridge after his important late goal in Sunday’s 4-2 FA Cup win against Leicester.

Sterling faced boos from Chelsea supporters when he was taken off the field after not performing well.

The £47.5million signing said sorry on Instagram for missing a penalty and promised to come back stronger.

When asked by Standard Sport if Sterling can handle the criticism, Chukwuemeka said: “Definitely, Raheem is a seasoned player with an impressive career.

We all know what a fantastic footballer he is. He has scored goals, made assists, and won many penalties this season. Mistakes happen, he’s only human and even the best players miss chances sometimes.

He had a bad day, but we’re fully behind him. Let’s not forget, he set up Cole’s goal.”

Many Chelsea players also defended Sterling on social media, with Noni Madueke arguing with a fan who criticized his teammate.

Chukwuemeka explained that Sterling does a lot behind the scenes that fans may not see, saying: “For us young players – especially me, Noni, and Cole – Raheem has been a great help since we arrived here.

He’s always guiding us, pointing out what we’re doing well and where we need to improve. On and off the pitch, Raheem is a big part of our team. He’s like a big brother to me.”

Chukwuemeka joined Chelsea for £20million from Aston Villa in 2021, but he grew up supporting the Blues.

He asked fans to stay united in the remaining matches of the season, as Chelsea aims to salvage a disappointing campaign by winning the FA Cup and securing a spot in Europe.

“Everyone is human, sometimes as fans you can’t control your feelings,” he said.

“You just need to trust the process. The whole team, including the fans, are in this together and great things are ahead. Stick with us through thick and thin. We’re definitely improving but it won’t always be smooth sailing. But stick with us and keep supporting us, we need you all.”

Chukwuemeka also said: “Another semi-final, that makes two for the season. We started the season wanting to win trophies, wanting to reach finals, so this is a huge chance for us as a young team, an opportunity to play at Wembley and hopefully make it to the final.