Trainer comments about reservists
© Imago
Chelsea trainer Enzo Maresca said about the situation of Raheem Sterling (30) and Axel Disasi (27), who have to train away from the professional squad and according to the “Times“Not allowed to eat with their teammates. Both play no role in the plans of Maresca – Sterling earns 19.6 million euros per season and Disasi 4.8 million euros by 2029.
The coach said, asked about the costly reservists: “My father is 75 years old and has been working as a fisherman for 50 years from two o’clock to ten in the morning. This is a hard life, not like that of a footballer like you work.” In 2022, Sterling came from Man City and 2023 to get Disasi from AS Monaco for 45 million euros. In the previous season, both ran loan for Arsenal or Aston Villa – in summer they should look for new clubs.
“As a player, I was in Raheems and Axel’s situation and I know very well that this is not a good feeling, because as a player you want to train and play,” says Maresca. The Italian did the UA for FC Sevilla, Juventus, West Brom and Olympiacos. Chelsea is in exchange with the Pfa player union, which wants to make sure that Sterling and Disasi have the opportunity to train under optimal conditions despite their reservist role.
“I know that the club gives you the opportunity to work in the right way, and that’s the only thing I can say,” said Maresca. Most recently, Sterling posted a contribution on social media that showed that he should train alone at 8:21 p.m. – an unpopular time with professionals. Sterling took it with humor and garnished his post with ironic emojis. Maresca sees no harassment in it, but says: “This is not only available at Chelsea, but at every club in the world, I can promise you. In Italy, Spain, England, France, the USA, Brazil, at every club in the world.”
To exclude players from the squad could be rated as “improper behavior”. In such cases, the footballer can terminate the contract with “good reasons”. That should hardly be of interest, especially with Sterling.
“If for some reason the player and the club cannot find a solution, the player gives the player all the means to train and do everything, but if you are not in the squad, you are not in the squad,” says Maresca. Both Sterling and Disasi will no longer be used in 2025-the next chance of playing time at the highest level will offer the duo from January 1 if the winter transfer window opens.