Enzo Maresca issues blunt new Raheem Sterling statement as PFA contact Chelsea

Enzo Maresca is struggling to sympathise too much with Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi as they continue to train away from Chelsea's first-team squad.

Sterling and Disasi both failed to complete moves away from the Blues over the summer transfer window despite the club being open to selling the unwanted duo.

Even with the window over, the pair have continued to train away from the senior squad, with the PFA investigating how the club are treating them both.

Maresca, while he accepted they are both in a tricky situation, does not share too much sympathy and referenced his father working as a fisherman for 50 years.

“My father is 75-years-old and for 50 years he has been a fisherman, working from 2 o'clock in the morning until 10 o'clock in the morning,” the Chelsea head coach said. “This is hard in life, not a player, the way they work.”

READ MORE: Raheem Sterling's heartfelt Chelsea exit promise as Enzo Maresca freezes him out

READ MORE: Benfica chief reveals Jose Mourinho could LEAVE club in just months due to clause

Maresca continued: “I’ve been in Raheem's situation and Axel's situation as a player and for sure I know that it's not the best feeling for a player.

“Because if you are a player that means that you want to train and play a game and then for a different reason the situation is the situation that is in this moment and I know that the club is giving them the opportunity to work in the right way and this is the only thing I can say.”

The Blues boss also strongly denied that the treatment was any more extreme than at any other major club. "I know that it's something that you like and you want to talk about but it's not just Chelsea, it's any club in the world.

"I can promise you, Italy, Spain, England, France, USA, Brazil, any club in the world, when for any reason the player and the club doesn't find any solution and you give the player all the tools to do training sessions and to do everything but if you are not involved in the squad you are not involved in the squad.

"Again, I know that it's something that you like to talk about but it's not about Chelsea, it's about any club in the world."

Maresca and his Chelsea side take on Manchester United this evening, with Sterling and Disasi to be left at home. It's a quick turnaround for the players who will be involved however, after their exploits against Bayern Munich on Wednesday night.

Cole Palmer is set to be fit to face the Red Devils, but others will be assessed in Friday's session. Maresca said: "Cole is okay. We have a session now. We flew back yesterday. So we need to assess some of the players. We have some doubt. But we didn't do any sessions since Wednesday game. And we'll see how it goes."

Join our new WhatsApp communityand receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.