NEWS. . . BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Enzo Maresca has shown Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell are away from Chelsea’s first team and said they are expected to leave Stamford Bridge before the transfer window closes.
Sterling ruled in Chelsea’s Premier League opener against Manchester City this weekend, leaving the England winger asking for “clarity” from the club.
Chilwell was also left out of the opening game of the new season after Maresca, who replaced Mauricio Pochettino on the bench at Stamford Bridge, admitted he would “probably” have to leave.
Asked about the duo’s long career in their pre-match press conference on Wednesday, Maresca said: “They train separately.
“As I said, the scenario is transparent and there is no update on it.
“They are Chelsea players, until they become Chelsea players. But it is imaginable to give them each and every minute. Those who need more minutes leave.
“To be honest, I checked. I spoke to Raheem before the game against Man City. I told him that he was going to have difficulty getting minutes with us and that is the reason.
“With Chilly, he’s a lovely guy, but he’s going to have a hard time. Whether you define it as brutal is up to you. To me, it’s not brutal, it’s just honest.
“I’m saying Raheem is a smart player, but I prefer other types of wingers and that’s the explanation.
“It’s not a comfortable situation. I know precisely that feeling, but it’s smart to know that if you stay, you’ll struggle to gain minutes.
Maresca will have to reduce his bloated Chelsea squad after another summer spending expansion at the west London club.
Portuguese striker Joao Félix is the club’s latest summer signing on Wednesday, completing a £45million move from Atlético Madrid.
But the decision to exile experienced English stars Sterling and Chilwell has attracted attention, especially among the players themselves.
Sterling has scored 19 goals in 81 appearances for Chelsea since joining from Manchester City in 2022, while Chilwell has scored over a hundred appearances for the Blues since moving from Leicester for £45m four years ago.
Chilwell linked up with Premier League rivals Manchester United earlier this summer, while Sterling is said to be interested in a number of overseas clubs.
On the arrival of Felix, who had previously enjoyed a disappointing loan spell at Chelsea, Maresca said: “First of all, he is an intelligent player, he has talent.
“The club has known him for two years. He can play in other positions with us, inside, on the nine, outside.
“Pedro [Neto] can play as a winger, he can play as a left winger. Joao [Felix] can play as an attacking midfielder, number nine, as a winger and we have a lot of games.
Chelsea academy graduate Conor Gallagher ended his £33million contract with Atletico Madrid shortly before Maresca’s press conference.
The English midfielder, who joined Chelsea at the age of eight and captained the team last season, signed a five-year contract with the La Liga club.
“The only thing I can say is that the procedure is from today, but from a few days and weeks ago. This is new,” Maresca said.
“It’s only for Chelsea, many clubs are promoting players from their academies. It’s very sad because we all love them, we all love them.
“Now the regulations are a little different and you have to sell the players from the academy. We will have to at least respect the regulations.
Chelsea, who lost 2-0 to Manchester City in their Premier League opener, will be looking for their first win under Maresca on Thursday night when they face Servette in the Europa Conference League.
Put us in your feed