Enzo Maresca Defends Handling of Sterling and Chilwell

Enzo Maresca has addressed concerns about his handling of Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell, who train separately from Chelsea’s first-team squad. Maresca, who believes he has been honest rather than brutal, clarified that he communicated clearly with Sterling and Chilwell about their current status. Maresca explained that Chelsea asked Sterling and over 15 other players to train apart as the club works to reduce a bloated squad.

He noted that while the situation might appear chaotic from the outside, it is not as disorganized as it seems. Maresca rejected claims of harshness, stating, “Brutal? I don’t think so. I try to be honest.” He emphasized that he informed Sterling about the likelihood of limited playing time before Chelsea’s 2-0 loss to Manchester City and reiterated his stance on Sterling’s role in the team.

Sterling, who joined Chelsea from Manchester City for £50 million in July 2022 has made 81 appearances for the club. Maresca confirmed he spoke directly with Sterling before the Manchester City match and will continue to be transparent about the situation. He indicated that Sterling’s representatives had expressed expectations about game involvement, which Maresca addressed directly.

Chilwell along with Sterling is among the players Chelsea considers surplus to requirements and could face a transfer before the window closes on August 30. Enzo Maresca dismissed accusations of working with a 42-man squad, asserting that many players do not join the main team. He expressed frustration at the ongoing scrutiny, emphasizing that Chelsea’s current setup is more organized than it appears.

Reece James will miss the upcoming Conference League match against Servette due to injury and Joao Felix, who recently signed from Atletico Madrid for £45 million, did not get registered in time to participate.