Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that England internationals Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell are training separately from the first team. This decision comes amidst growing speculation about potential transfers away from the Premier League club. Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell, who were absent from Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday, face challenges securing regular playing time given the club’s extensive squad.
Enzo Maresca indicated that Chelsea’s large roster makes it challenging to provide game minutes for every player, suggesting that Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell might need to consider leaving if they seek more regular playing opportunities. “In this moment, they are training apart,” Maresca stated, referring to their current situation. “We have a big squad, for me it’s impossible to give everyone minutes. So if they’re looking for minutes, probably it is better to leave.”
The manager expressed that Raheem Sterling does not align with his preferred style of winger, despite acknowledging his quality. “I’m not saying he’s not a good player, but I prefer different kinds of wingers,” Enzo Maresca said. He had previously informed Raheem Sterling that securing a place in the lineup would be difficult. Similarly, Ben Chilwell was told about the challenges he would face due to his position.
Enzo Maresca described his approach as honest rather than harsh, emphasizing that while the current situation may not be ideal, it could improve if they move to a club where they would get more playing time. “It’s not a comfortable situation… but in a few days or weeks it can be a better situation because you move and you join a club where you will get more minutes,” he added.
Raheem Sterling was not met by Enzo Maresca after the Manchester City match, but the manager would reiterate his previous points if they were to discuss the situation again. Additionally, Chelsea captain Reece James will be absent from Thursday’s Europa Conference League playoff match against Servette due to a hamstring injury.
Enzo Maresca stressed the importance of winning every match, including the upcoming fixture against Servette. “We try to win every game we play. Against Man City, I don’t think the intention was to win the game, but we tried to win that game… and tomorrow is a game, that we will try to win, and hopefully we can win,” he concluded.
