Maresca Defends His Decision To Eliminate Sterling And Dissasi

Enzo Maresca has her own reasons for marginalizing Raheem Sterling and Alex Disasi from the squad (Instagram/@maresca).

JAKARTA - Enzo Maresca defended his treatment of Chelsea exiles Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi, claiming that forced to train alone was not difficult.

ESPN reported on Thursday, September 18, 2025, local time that the Professional Footballers Association (FIFPro) had contacted the club about their working conditions this season after they became a surplus and were isolated from the first team.

Both of them did not manage to secure a move from Stamford Bridge during the transfer market despite efforts to reach an agreement.

Maresca has not met or spoken to the two players this season and both have been completely separated from the team, trained and eaten alone and at different times to other squad members.

Sterling, who failed to loan to Arsenal last season, still has the remaining two years of a 325,000-week contract he signed in 2022.

While Disasi is still under contract until 2029. He spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa.

"I've been in Raheem and Axel's situation as a player. I know this isn't the best feeling. If you're a player, it means you want to practice and play."

"However, for different reasons, the situation is like this at this time. I know that the club is giving them the opportunity to work in the right way and this is all I can say."

"This is something you want to talk about, but not just Chelsea, any club in the world, I guarantee. Italy, Spain, England, France, the United States, Brazil, any country in the world."

"Whatever the reason, players and clubs do not find a solution. If you are not involved in the squad, you are not involved in the squad," said Maresca.

FIFA has regulations regarding players isolated from the squad in situations that club can consider abusive behavior, which could give someone the right to terminate their contract early.

It is known that Chelsea tried to facilitate Sterling's move to Bayern Munich and Napoli over the summer.

However, the 30-year-old preferred to stay in England for family reasons.

"My father is 75 years old. For 50 years he has been a fisherman who works from two in the morning to 10 in the morning."

"It's a tough life. It's not how a player works," said Maresca.

Meanwhile, new player Alejandro Garnacho is ready to make his full debut against his former club, Manchester United, at Old Trafford on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 23.30 WIB.

Maresca emphasized that the Argentine must learn about the welcome he will receive later at home to his former club.

"We are pleased with the way he adapts to our style of play, what we want from our wingers."

"I think he (Garnacho) is ready to play. You have to learn to deal with things like this," said Maresca.