Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca has told Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi that their struggles at Stamford Bridge are nothing compared to the tough life his father endured as a fisherman.
Speaking at a press conference, Maresca drew a sharp comparison:
“My father is 75 years old and for 50 years he has been a fisherman, working from two o’clock in the morning until 10 in the morning. That is a hard life. Not for players.”
Sterling, 30, remains Chelsea’s highest-paid player on more than £300,000 a week but has been exiled from the first team, training alone at Cobham with no path back into the squad. Disasi, 27, finds himself in the same situation, though on a smaller wage and with a contract that runs until 2029.
The Professional Footballers’ Association has raised concerns, ensuring both players still have proper facilities as they wait for the January transfer window.
Sterling recently broke his silence, posting a late-night training picture on Instagram, highlighting the lonely reality of life in Chelsea’s so-called “bomb squad.”
Maresca, however, downplayed suggestions of unfair treatment:
“I’ve been in Raheem’s and Axel’s situation as a player, and I know it’s not the best feeling. But this happens at every club in the world. If you are not involved in the squad, you are simply not involved.”
Sterling has yet to play a game under Maresca. His last Chelsea appearance was in May 2024, under Mauricio Pochettino, before spending a loan spell at Arsenal where he failed to replicate his Manchester City form.
The winger’s exclusion has sparked debate in English football, with some calling it disrespectful given his decorated career — four Premier League titles, five League Cups, an FA Cup, and 82 England caps.