New Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is not to blame for Raheem Sterling's exodus, says ex-England man Phil Jagielka.
Sterling's omission from Maresca's first Premier League squad, which suffered a 2-0 defeat to champions Manchester City, lit the spark that revealed a group of first-team players were being treated as outcasts at Stamford Bridge.
The saga, which has seen both Sterling and defender Trevoh Chalobah ruthlessly stripped of their squad numbers, has been the talk of the window so far and left fans somewhat disgusted at how the club have treated their players.
However, Jagielka feels as though no blame should be assigned to Maresca - despite him being the bearer of the news that '15-20' first-team players will train separately from his first-team squad - as he is simply following orders given to him by the club's hierarchy.
Speaking on David Seaman's Seaman Says podcast, via Betway, Jagielka said: "It doesn't seem like it's 100 per cent the manager's choice. It seems like the people that make the money decisions, or the owner, have decided there's a group that have got an ‘X’ across them.
"They don't want them there, and it seems like Raheem might be surplus to requirements. For me, if you look at the bench, I think if Raheem was on the bench, he'd have probably made it stronger. But, there's obviously been a statement.
"I just don't know how the changing room can cope with it. I don't understand how people can walk in. If I put myself in Raheem's position, he can't come in happy knowing that basically he's got to go to another changing room and train with the kids when he's not done anything wrong."
Sterling's representatives wrote that their "expectation was that Raheem would be involved in the [Manchester City] fixture in some capacity" and that they "looked forward to gaining clarity on the situation."
This was met with a stark counterattack from Chelsea, who implored Maresca in his press conference to lay all of the club's cards on the table, revealing that a group had been ousted from first-team contention.
"I am not working with 42 players. I am working with 21 players," Maresca admitted. "The other 15-20 players are training apart. I don't see them. It's not a mess like it looks from the outside. Absolutely not. They can even have a 20-year contract, it’s not my point. I don’t care.
“I'm not saying Raheem is not a good player, but I prefer different kinds of wingers. This is the reason why. I spoke with Raheem, one-on-one the day before City and I explained him exactly the situation. I didn't see Raheem after the game. The situation is quite clear."
Among the exiled group lies £97.5million Romelu Lukaku and the world's most expensive goalkeeper, Kepa Arrizabalaga. This pair and others are likely to suffer a similar fate to boyhood Blue Conor Gallagher, who has moved to Atletico Madrid as part of the exodus.
SEAN-DRE-OCHIM
2
why clubs is not coming for Chalobah chalobah is a good Defender i wish him all the best
Gabrielmicheal
0
whatever be the case, Raheem Sterling shouldn't be treated the way he was treated, among all the wingers in that Chelsea team, Sterling is the most experienced, Maresca should be weary of how he's treating his players so that he won't regret his actions at the end of the day.
Specific231
0
From the looks of things, I don’t see Enzo Maresca ending the season at Chelsea. Once the politics are not separated from the dressing room, you don’t get results.
Wancou
3
James will be next whether u like it or not, his pay is quite high n is always injured, other then that hes a great player in right back. Cant you see all the high wages are being let go. The owners are business men so what do u think they are doing, which is not wrong by the way
Zabbdkpu
2
guardiola went to city he did same with some players and Ateta did it also at Arsenal but once it Chelsea it's wrong and as a disciple of pep what do you expect from Enzo maresca, am still expecting more players to join the x group like Sanchez, Badiashile & mudrik
georgeoduah
0
Simple logic will tell you that the most expensive players are on the chop. The trend is on younger and cheaper full stop! If expensive then you should be excelling and not erratic! If they're indispensable why aren't other teams clamouring for their signatures? The writing is on the wall; they can't meet their wage demands. True those salaries pegged on Lukaku and Sterling were outrageously exergerated! Same applied to Drinkwater, Sarr, Kepa etc all excess baggage draining the fiscus. The system is rationalizing the wage bills/structures. Gallagher demanded equation to Reece Jemes' salary but the latter's case was a deterrent to let RM back off, simple!
small play we they play, you start they speak grammer..
tibabirst
0
True there are players who want to declare indespensability on coaches. Some talk too much, like this boy who scored the second goal last night! Real good players show their mettle on the field of play, on on Twitter or Instagram. Maresca is a perfect copy of Cuardiolla! If you feel too good we part ways but life goes on! All those who trecked to Barca and RM of late are now feeling the heat, being axed like graffiti.
tibabirst
0
Simple logic will tell you that the most expensive players are on the chop. The trend is on younger and cheaper full stop! If expensive then you should be excelling and not erratic! If they're indispensable why aren't other teams clamouring for their signatures? The writing is on the wall; they can't meet their wage demands. True those salaries pegged on Lukaku and Sterling were outrageously exergerated! Same applied to Drinkwater, Sarr, Kepa etc all excess baggage draining the fiscus. The system is rationalizing the wage bills/structures. Gallagher demanded equation to Reece Jemes' salary but the latter's case was a deterrent to let RM back off, simple!
Mitchello2
4
Where were this clowns when lukaku was banished from the first term as well because he was 10 times more valuable and of more Importance than Sterling. The only reason the media is even talking about it is because they are English players otherwise players get banished every time. Ask ozil, abug, cancelo, etc
akiamo
0
Honestly, i was initially blaming Maresca, but after casting my mind back to what happened to our former coach from Brighton, i got to understand that Maresca is simply avoiding having to train with a bloated squad, no coach would do well training with such group of players He is just being brutal to achieve success and learning from his predecessor
Exactly 👌! he's wise ✅
akiamo
1
work with 21, fair enough. 21 isn't a bloated squad 👌! good move gaffer......! you are only responsible for the 21 you've chosen 👍. the rest, it's upto Mr Todd. this is fair; and a good decision had to be made. a decision that the previous 3 gaffers failed to make.
Kopamopst
0
he is not good enough. he is a scam
Gbengababs
4
Honestly, i was initially blaming Maresca, but after casting my mind back to what happened to our former coach from Brighton, i got to understand that Maresca is simply avoiding having to train with a bloated squad, no coach would do well training with such group of players He is just being brutal to achieve success and learning from his predecessor