Enzo Maresca expels two players from first-team training and orders them to leave Chelsea

Enzo Maresca has revealed that Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell are currently training separately from the rest of the Chelsea first-team squad and has suggested that it would be best for both players to seek a move away from Stamford Bridge before the transfer window closes.

Sterling was left out of Chelsea’s Premier League opener against Manchester City at the weekend, leaving the England winger asking for ‘clarity’ from the club.

Chilwell was also omitted from the opening game of the new season after Maresca, who replaced Mauricio Pochettino in the Stamford Bridge hot-seat, admitted he should ‘probably’ leave.

Asked for an update on the pair’s future at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday, Maresca said: ‘They are training apart.

‘As I said, the situation is quite clear and there is not any update on the situation.

‘They are Chelsea players. Until they are Chelsea players. But it’s possible to give them all minutes. Those who want minutes, they are better off to leave.

‘I try to be honest. I spoke with Raheem before the Man City game. I said he’s going to struggle to get minutes with us and this is the reason.

‘With Chilly, he is a lovely guy but he will struggle. If you define this as brutal, it’s up to you to decide. For me, it’s not brutal, it’s just honest.

‘I’m not saying Raheem is not a good player but I prefer different kinds of wingers and this is the reason why.

‘It’s not a comfortable situation. I know exactly the feeling but it’s good to know that if you stay you are going to struggle to get minutes.’

Maresca needs to trim his bloated Chelsea squad following another extraordinary summer spending spree at the west London club.

Portugal forward Joao Felix became the club’s latest summer signing on Wednesday, completing a £45m move from Atletico Madrid.

But the decision to exile experienced England stars Sterling and Chilwell has raised eyebrows, not least from the players themselves.

Sterling has scored 19 goals in 81 appearances for Chelsea since joining from Manchester City in 2022, while Chilwell has played over 100 games for the Blues since a £45m move from Leicester four years ago.

Chilwell was linked with Premier League rivals Manchester United earlier in the summer while Sterling is believed to have interest from multiple foreign clubs.

On the arrival of Felix, who previously had an underwhelming loan spell at Chelsea, Maresca said: ‘First of all he’s a good player, he’s a talent.

‘The club already knows him from two years ago. He can play different positions with us, inside, as a nine, outside.

‘Pedro [Neto] can play right winger, he can play left winger. Joao [Felix] can play as an attacking midfielder, a number nine, as a winger and we have many games.’

Joao + Chelsea colours = 😍 pic.twitter.com/jimSo3i4lj

Chelsea academy graduate Conor Gallagher completed his £33m to Atletico Madrid shortly before Maresca’s press conference.

The England midfielder, who joined Chelsea at the age of eight and regularly captained the team last season, has signed a five-year contract with the La Liga club.

‘The only thing I can say is that it is not from today, its from days and weeks ago, the process. It’s nothing new,’ Maresca said.

‘It’s not only for Chelsea, many clubs are selling players from their academies. That is very sad because we all love them, we all love that.

‘Now the rules are a bit different and you have to sell your academy players. We have to at least respect the rules.’

Chelsea, who lost 2-0 to Manchester City in their Premier League opener, will look to pick up their first win under Maresca on Thursday night when they face Servette in the Europa Conference League.

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