Sterling has since received
the backing of players, coaches and media members for his response.
Gundogan has also
experienced racial abuse, as both he and Mesut Ozil were attacked over their
Turkish ancestry while playing for Germany during the World Cup in 2018.
The pair met with Turkey
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in May and posed for a photo with him, drawing
rebukes but also abuse by fans and even a German politicians.
While Gundogan has seen fit
to carry on with Germany, Ozil blasted his treatment from the DFB and retired
from international play.
Citing that experience,
Gundogan added his voice to those supporting Sterling, saying it is difficult
but that they must all persevere.
“We have to deal with it,”
Gundogan said. “It’s not easy because I lived it in the summer as well. I know
how that feels and it hurts.
“But at the end we have no other
choice but to stay strong and try to go through that period and try to do our
best on the pitch. Yeah, to keep being successful, that’s what matters.”
Asked how Sterling has held
up in the days since the alleged incident, Gundugan said his team-mate has been
handling the situation fine, and praised Chelsea for their response.
“He has been normal. I
think he made his point clear through Instagram, giving a statement on that. I
don’t know if there is any more to say but this is obviously something that
doesn’t belong anywhere in the world.
“I think he got a lot of
support this week. I think also the way Chelsea reacted was good. It’s
something we all have to fight; we all have to play our individual roles to
make it better for everyone.”
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