Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling has said the criticism he received after joining the club from Liverpool in 2015 had a negative effect on his confidence.
Sterling joined the Etihad Stadium outfit for a British record fee but struggled for consistency initially. However, in his most recent two seasons, he has excelled under manager Pep Guardiola and was recently named as the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year.
Speaking ahead of City's FA Cup final with Watford on Saturday, Sterling said the comments from those associated with Liverpool in the media hindered his form, per BBC Sport:
"When I was 14, 15, 16, 17, I was so confident.