Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has defended his approach towards Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell as both players continue to train separately from the first-team squad.
Maresca emphasized that his handling of the situation has been “honest” rather than “brutal,” as he navigates the complexities of managing a bloated squad.
Maresca acknowledged that Chelsea might appear disorganized from the outside as they work to streamline the squad, but he insisted that the reality is different. With over 15 players, including Sterling and Chilwell, training away from the main group, the manager has been clear about their prospects for the season.
“I try to be honest,” Maresca stated during a news conference on Wednesday. “I spoke with Raheem before the City game. I said he is going to struggle to get minutes with us, and this is the reason why he is out of the squad.”
Regarding Ben Chilwell, Maresca added, “I said he is a lovely guy, but he is going to struggle because of his position. If you define this as brutal, it’s up to you to decide. For me, it’s not brutal, it’s just honest.”
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