Enzo Maresca confirms “there is no way back” for Raheem Sterling

If Raheem Sterling along with Chelsea's fellow first-team exiles remain at the club past Friday's transfer deadline, Enzo Maresca has threatened to withhold minutes from them. Due to Pedro Neto's summer acquisition, Sterling is the star of a sizable group of players working away from Maresca's first-team squad at Cobham. Ben Chilwell, who served as Chelsea's vice captain the previous year, has also been urged to look for work this week.

The Athletic revealed earlier this week that Sterling wants to settle his contract dispute with Chelsea—he has three years left on a deal that pays him more than £300,000 per week—before reaching out to potential suitors. However, Maresca warns that any unpopular player who stays at Stamford Bridge this week will be sidelined for an extended period of time until the January transfer window opens.

When asked what would happen to Sterling should he remain a Chelsea player after the transfer deadline, Maresca answered, “We’re gonna see. I prefer to be honest with the players, and with Raheem I have been exactly the same. The ones who are not involved are not going to be involved, and they are not going to get any minutes in case they stay.”

The former Leicester City manager said that, “I don’t know what happens when the transfer window closes. We’ll see who is here and who is not here. The only thing I can say is the ones who are going to get minutes are the ones I feel can help us.”

“Hopefully after the international break, hopefully” : Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca

Prior to their UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying match against Servette, Maresca stated that Chelsea had no new injury concerns. However, as a precaution, Neto and Malo Gusto have both stay back in London.

Enzo Maresca said, “Reece (James) is out, Romeo (Lavia) is still out, and Pedro and Malo are not involved in the squad for tomorrow just for prevention, not for any problem. Hopefully after the international break, hopefully.”