Chelsea under PFA scrutiny over Sterling and Disasi treatment as Maresca tightens control
PFA working with Chelsea to address training arrangements as Sterling and Disasi remain out of first-team plans
Chelsea are working closely with the Professional Footballers' Association over the treatment of Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi as they remain sidelined under manager Enzo Maresca. The club has invested a combined £85 million on the two players, who have yet to secure moves away from Stamford Bridge this summer.
Sterling endured a difficult loan spell at Arsenal last season and is reported to have turned down offers from Napoli and Bayern Munich during the transfer window, while interest from West Ham United and Fulham did not materialize. Disasi also rejected approaches from Bournemouth and West Ham after Monaco indicated a desire to recall him. With deadline deals failing to materialize, both players have been left at Chelsea at least until January, training away from the first team.
Coach Enzo Maresca has acknowledged there is no pathway back into the starting XI for either player at present, saying they remain Chelsea players by contract but will not rejoin the first-team squad in the near term.
Sterling earlier this week gave a stark public hint of life in what has been described as Chelsea's bomb squad when he posted a photo on Instagram of Cobham's empty training pitches at 20:21 with the caption training alongside a handshake and a cold-face emoji.
ESPN reported that Chelsea and the PFA are coordinating to ensure Sterling and Disasi continue to train and maintain fitness at Cobham, and that designated coaches have been assigned to help them pursue a January move.
Maresca reiterated in a news conference that while the two players are under contract they are training separately from the squad and there is no plan for their return to the first team.
Chelsea's season began with an unbeaten run in the Premier League but they were beaten 2-0 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League, with two goals from Harry Kane and an own goal by Trevoh Chalobah sealing the win for the German champions. Maresca said the performance illustrated that the Champions League game requires 95 minutes of focus, noting that Chelsea started well in the first 20 minutes and created several chances but conceded an avoidable goal that shifted the momentum.
The Blues travel to Manchester United on Saturday to face a United side that has struggled for consistency this term, while Maresca continues to manage a squad that currently excludes Sterling and Disasi from first-team duties.
With January approaching, Chelsea's handling of Sterling and Disasi has drawn scrutiny of the club's approach to welfare and squad management, and how it positions players who are not part of the manager's immediate plans.
