Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has delivered a blunt response to Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi, who continue to train away from the first team. Speaking ahead of the weekend’s Premier League fixture, Maresca compared the struggles of footballers to the life of his 75-year-old father, a fisherman who worked grueling hours for five decades.
Enzo Maresca on Sterling and Disasi Training Alone
At his press conference, Maresca was asked about Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi training separately from the Chelsea squad, with no signs of a return to first-team action. Both players remain sidelined as the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) works to ensure they have proper conditions while waiting for the January transfer window.
Maresca highlighted the contrast between professional football and real hardship:
“My father is 75 years old and for 50 years he has been a fisherman, working from two o’clock in the morning until 10 o’clock in the morning. This is a hard life. Not for players.”
Sterling’s Chelsea Future Remains Uncertain
Sterling, 30, is still Chelsea’s highest-paid player, earning over £300,000 a week. Despite having two years left on his contract, he has been left out of Maresca’s plans, with no path back to the first team.
The England international has recently shared videos of himself training alone at night, but his future appears increasingly tied to a January move. Disasi faces a similar situation, with both players effectively frozen out until the winter market opens.
What’s Next for Chelsea and Sterling?
With the January transfer window approaching, speculation will continue over Sterling’s next move. Clubs in the Premier League and abroad could show interest, but Chelsea’s priority remains finding a solution that suits all parties.
For now, Sterling and Disasi will continue training apart from the squad, as Maresca focuses on reshaping Chelsea’s future direction.
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