Maresca 'honest, not brutal' to Sterling and Chilwell

Enzo Maresca said he has been "honest" alternatively than sadistic pinch Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell arsenic some proceed to train distant from Chelsea's first-team squad.

The Chelsea head believes he has been clear pinch nan "more than 15 players" - including guardant Sterling and left-back Chilwell - who are being asked to train isolated from his main group.

Maresca said Chelsea look for illustration "a mess... from outside" arsenic they effort to trim a bloated squad but insisted that was acold from being nan reality.

He besides denied location is immoderate further need for "clarity" astir Sterling's status, arsenic nan 82-cap England international's representatives person claimed.

Maresca stated he said to Sterling earlier leaving him retired of nan squad for Chelsea's 2-0 conclusion to Manchester City successful nan Premier League connected Sunday.

He does not expect to person further conversations pinch Sterling anterior to nan play-off lucifer against Servette successful nan Conference League connected Thursday.

The player's representatives said Sterling had expected to beryllium progressive against City, which led Maresca to beryllium asked successful a news convention connected Wednesday whether his handling of nan business had been "brutal".

Maresca said: "Brutal? I don't deliberation so. I effort to beryllium honest. I tin repetition again if it's not clear: I said pinch Raheem earlier nan City game. I said he is going to struggle to get minutes pinch america and this is nan logic why he is retired of nan squad.

"With Chilly, I said he is simply a beautiful guy, but he is going to struggle because of his position. He is going to struggle. If you specify this arsenic brutal, it's up to you to decide. For me, it's not brutal, it's conscionable honest."

Sterling has made 81 appearances for Chelsea since joining from Manchester City for £50m successful July 2022.

"I said pinch Raheem one-on-one nan time earlier City and I explained him precisely nan situation. I didn't spot Raheem aft nan game," Maresca said.

"He is training apart, arsenic I said, but successful lawsuit I beryllium pinch Raheem, I will show him precisely nan aforesaid things that I already told him. I don't person thing caller to show him because I was rather clear."

Sterling and Chilwell are among a big of players now deemed surplus to requirements astatine Stamford Bridge and could beryllium sold earlier deadline day.

Maresca is disappointment by persistent accusations that he is moving pinch a 42-man squad.

"I'm not moving pinch 42 aliases 43 players. You for illustration to opportunity we person 42 aliases 43 players but much than 15 players are training apart, they are not pinch nan team," said nan erstwhile Leicester City manager.

"I don't spot them, truthful it's not a messiness for illustration it looks from outside. Absolutely not."

The English summertime transportation model closes connected August 30 and Chelsea could let respective players to depart arsenic they activity a much manageable squad size.

"As I said galore times, galore things tin hap successful nan past 10 days, nan past week, truthful we'll see," Maresca said.

Reece James will miss nan Servette crippled because of injury, and Joao Felix has not been registered successful clip to beryllium progressive pursuing his £45m move from Ateltico Madrid.