‘Misunderstood genius’: Chelsea star’s Champions League goal vs Dortmund replicates Man City finish

Raheem Sterling’s important goal for Chelsea to help them progress into the Champions League quarter-finals was a carbon copy of a finish he netted for his former club Manchester City.

The 28-year-old, who joined Chelsea from Man City last summer in a deal worth £47.5 million, score the opening goal of the Round of 16 Champions League tie against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night.

Sterling struck Chelsea level on aggregate in the 43rd minute, before Kai Havertz turned the tie in the hosts’ favour at Stamford Bridge to seal a 2-1 aggregate win, booking their place in next Friday’s last-eight draw.

Ben Chilwell’s low cross met Sterling in the box but he mis-kicked it, but fortunately it fell to him perfectly and he smashed it past Alexander Meyer into the roof of the net two minutes before half-time to score his 27th Champions League goal.

“I mis-kicked it and didn’t have a great first touch,” said the England international post-match to BT Sport, “but it landed perfectly for me and that set us on our way to build on the performance!”

But it was spotted that Sterling’s goal was an exact replica of a finish during his Man City days. Sergio Aguero’s cut-back during their 6-1 win over Southampton in the Premier League back in November 2018 also fell to Sterling in the box, who again mis-kicked it initially.

Sterling still kept hold of the ball and second time around he fired low past Alex McCarthy.

One fan wrote on Twitter: “This is actually a Sterling trademark, misunderstood genius.”

The attacker won’t mind how he scores his goals with Chelsea desperate to end their attacking woes in front of goal.

Graham Potter’s side relieved more pressure to claim back-to-back wins in all competitions after beating Leeds United, with Chelsea scoring two goals in a game for the first time since December 27.

“It was a massive performance,” added Sterling on Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Dortmund in west London.

“We had to dig deep. We took our chances and recently we just haven’t had the luck. Tonight, we felt it as a team, we knew we could do it. Kai did it for us in the end.”

It was another special European night at Stamford Bridge, one which head coach Graham Potter was delighted to be part of.

“To win a game and progress into the last eight of the Champions League, you have to say it’s up there in terms of wins and evenings in my career, for sure,” concluded te 47-year-old as they now await their fate in next week’s draw.