Maresca Defends Sterling and Disasi: “It’s Not That Difficult” at Chelsea

Enzo Maresca has defended his treatment of Chelsea players, Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi, arguing that training alone “is not difficult”. The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has contacted the club regarding the conditions in which both players are working this season, after being deemed surplus to requirements and excluded from the first team. Neither of them managed to finalize a transfer away from Stamford Bridge during the transfer window, despite the efforts made to facilitate agreements. Maresca has neither seen nor spoken to any of the players this season, and both have been kept completely separate from the team, training and eating alone and at different times than the rest of the squad. Sterling, who had an unsuccessful loan at Arsenal last season, still has two years remaining on his £325,000-a-week contract, signed in 2022, while Disasi is under contract until 2029.

I’ve been in Raheem’s situation and in Axel’s situation as a player. I know it’s not the best feeling, because if you’re a player, it means you want to train and play.

Maresca

Maresca added that the club is giving them the opportunity to work the right way. FIFA has regulations on players who are isolated from teams in circumstances that could constitute abusive conduct by the club, which could entitle an individual to terminate their contract early. It is understood that Chelsea tried to facilitate transfers for Sterling to Bayern Munich and Napoli during the summer, but the 30-year-old player’s preference was to remain in England for family reasons. The new signing, Alejandro Garnacho, is in line to make his full debut against his former team, Manchester United, at Old Trafford on Saturday. Maresca added that they are happy with the way Garnacho is adapting to his style and believes he is ready to start the match. When asked about the possible hostile reception the winger might receive from the local fans, he replied: “You have to learn to handle these kinds of things.”