Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell are the latest Chelsea players to be told they cannot train with the first team, with Enzo Maresca insisting he is not overseeing a ‘brutal’ dictatorship.
Sterling, 29, is available to leave in this summer’s window after being told personally by Maresca thathe will struggle for minutes because he prefers a ‘different type of winger’.
Chilwell, 27, was informed during the two-week tour of the United States that he is not the proper fit for what Maresca wants from his full backs.
Chelsea are set to train on Wednesday afternoon with a total of 20 players, despite having more than 40 on their books in total.
Speaking ahead of facing Servette, who Chelsea must beat over two legs to ensure they are in the Conference League this season, Maresca said: ‘Brutal? I don't think so. I just try to be honest.
Enzo Maresca has been brutally honest with a number of members of his overstuffed squad
‘I spoke with Raheem before the (Manchester) City game. I told him he is going to struggle to get minutes with us. Chilly, he is a lovely guy, but he is going to struggle in his position with us. If you find this brutal, it is up to you to decide.
‘They (Sterling and Chilwell) are training apart. As I said, the situation is quite clear and there is not any update on the situation. They are Chelsea players. But it's not possible to give them all minutes. Those who want minutes, they are better off to leave.’
Sterling and Chilwell are not alone in training apart, with Trevoh Chalobah, Romelu Lukaku and Kepa Arrizabalaga among those also working separately. It is understood they are all training together as a group, rather than simply being told to join the academy kids.
Yet they are unable to use the first-team facilities while their exile is ongoing. Chelsea have until the closure of the summer’s transfer window on August 30 to get rid of any dead wood.