Enzo Maresca has commented on players training away from the first team and has described it as not a “comfortable situation.”
Much has been documented about Chelsea’s squad size and the Blues face a busy end to the window as they look to move a number of players of.
Maresca has insisted he’s not actually working with 42 players and is working with a group of 21, whilst the rest train away from the first team.
Maresca on players training away from the first team
Chelsea have a group of players training away from the first team with former goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini which includes the likes of Trevoh Chalobah, Romelu Lukaku, Kepa Arrizabalaga and now Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell.
The Blues have come in for criticism for the way they banish players from the first team with fans particularly unhappy with the way Chalobah and Conor Gallagher have been treated.
Speaking ahead of Thursday’s first leg of the Europa Conference League play-off against Swiss side Servette the Italian was asked on his thoughts on players training away from the group.
“It’s not a comfortable situation. I know exactly the feeling but it’s good to know that if you stay you are going to struggle to get minutes,” he told reporters.
One thing about Maresca is that he’s very honest and forthcoming with his answers, and whether it’s good or bad news players will likely appreciate that rather than endlessly talking around the situation.
The Blues certainly have a lot of work to do and it will be interesting to see what solutions they can find before the end of the window for the likes of Sterling and Chilwell.
In all honesty it will be nice once the window closes not to constantly hear about Chelsea’s squad size and just focus on the task at hand which is getting results on the pitch.