The inevitable problems of Chelsea’s bloated squad emerged even before the season began, with Raheem Sterling voicing his discontent just an hour before their opener against Manchester City.
After being left out of the matchday squad, Sterling’s representatives released a statement seeking “clarity” on his role, raising concerns about his future at the club.
Chelsea’s squad, listed at 42 players on their website, includes 11 summer signings, making it challenging to fit everyone into a matchday squad of 20.
Manager Enzo Maresca, who took over from Mauricio Pochettino this summer, acknowledged the issue, stating that some players would need to leave due to the lack of space.
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Sterling’s absence in the 2-0 loss to Manchester City marked the first time since 2012 that he hasn’t played in a Premier League opener.
Former players like Micah Richards and Jamie Redknapp criticized the timing of Sterling’s statement, with Richards accusing him of “letting his team-mates down.”
The situation with Sterling is just one example of the uncertainty facing several Chelsea players, including Conor Gallagher, Ben Chilwell, Trevoh Chalobah, and Romelu Lukaku, who are all facing unclear futures at the club.
Maresca’s challenge of managing the oversized squad echoes the difficulties faced by former boss Graham Potter, who also struggled with squad management during his tenure.
As the transfer window nears its end, Chelsea’s management faces the daunting task of trimming down the roster to comply with Premier League squad rules.
Chelsea had to leave Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of their squad for the Champions League knockout stages that campaign even after he had started all the group games becuase of the size of their squad.