Perhaps new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca felt that his comments would silence the questions for good.
Instead, they only raised more uncertainty, while shining a very harsh light on the baffling situation Chelsea find themselves in.
“I am not working with 42 players. I am working with 21 players (in first-team training),” Maresca said. “It’s not a mess like it looks from outside.
“The other players can even have 20 years contract, it is not my point. I don’t care.”
‘Not a mess’? Really?
Can you say such a thing while admitting that half of the footballers at your disposal are not currently training with the first-team squad? That, from an outside perspective, looks like a recipe for disaster.
Especially given the way Chelsea have gone about treating a number of influential senior players.
Ben Chilwell, Trevoh Chalobah and Raheem Sterling are among those currently out of Maresca’s plans. The latter has even lost his number seven shirt to new signing Pedro Neto, with Pep Guardiola’s former Manchester City assistant admitting that he prefers a ‘different kind of winger’, per Sky Sports.
Could Arsenal rescue Raheem Sterling from Chelsea?
Sterling’s camp also went public with their frustration after the £50 million England international was left out of last week’s 2-0 defeat by Manchester City.
So, presuming there is no way back for him at Stamford Bridge, what next for one of the most decorated English footballers of the modern era? Where does he go from here, his 30th birthday approaching and his wages reportedly in excess of £300,000-a-week.
Wages that appear to have scuppered a potential switch to Juventus or Bayern Munich, HITC understands. Sterling is also not keen on heading to Saudi Arabia.
Martin Keown, the Arsenal legend, has been quizzed about whether he would take the former Liverpool and Manchester City forward at the Emirates Stadium.
And his response, to some extent, reflects the overarching opinion towards a player who’s reputation has suffered greatly at Chelsea despite performing far better than some of the club’s other big-money signings.
“No,” Keown tells talkSPORT (23 August, 10am) when asked about the prospect of Sterling moving from West London to the North of the capital. “I don’t think I would (take him at Arsenal).
“I do rate this guy as a very good player. But I think, when he played for Man City, he did his best work off the ball. When you look what Pep did, it was all off the ball movement. When he has the ball, he does too much and he doesn’t get past his man.”
Aston Villa could be ideal destination for England ace
Arsenal have youngsters Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli as their first-choice widemen these days.
In contrast to Sterling – an intelligent, cerebral talent at his best when making subtle movements in and around the penalty area – Mikel Arteta’s side have flourished with two speedy, ball-carrying wingers very different in style to the four-time Premier League winner.
The likes of Aston Villa, Newcastle United and a big-spending, ambitious West Ham have all been mentioned as potential destinations.
And Keown, who watched Villa boss Unai Emery at close quarters during his time in the Arsenal dugout, wonders if the Midlands may be the ideal destination. Especially considering the Spaniard’s remarkable track record when it comes to coaxing every ounce of potential out of his players.
“Villa might not be a bad fit for him. Emery is very hands on and knows exactly what he wants from a player. He might suit their style,” adds Keown, who also played in claret-and-blue during his career.
“West Ham have been active in the transfer market. Newcastle, will they have the revenue to do that (after their Financial Fair Play concerns)?”
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