‘Let them join in with the lads’ – Chelsea urged to reverse decision on axing star duo
Chelsea have been told to review and reverse their decision to shun Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi from Enzo Maresca’s first-team squad as they continue to train away from their teammates.
The PFA recently voiced concerns over Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi’s respective treatment at Chelsea, with the duo currently making up a controversial ‘bomb squad’ at Stamford Bridge.
Sterling joined Chelsea as one of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital’s first marquee signings back in 2022, but his time at the club has largely been one of struggle and woe since as he was sent out on loan to Arsenal last summer with no future under Enzo Maresca.
Disasi has also been on the fringes at Chelsea since Maresca’s arrival last summer, and he went out on loan last season too, joining Aston Villa in January, but failed to make an impression in the Second City.
Bournemouth wanted to sign Disasi late in the summer, while Football Insider revealed that West Ham and Fulham were each targeting Sterling in the final few days of the window, but both failed to seal an exit and are now facing extended spells without any senior game-time.
Murphy thinks Chelsea should allow Sterling and Disasi to re-join first-team training for the good of the team
Sources have recently told Football Insider that Sterling will stay at Chelsea until January whilst he contemplates his options for a transfer out of Stamford Bridge, with neither his or Disasi’s contracts likely to be cancelled.
Maresca doubled down on their saga in a press conference on Friday (19 September), as he insisted that his father has a harder life than the pair as a fisherman back in Italy, implying they should not be too disheartened at their current predicament.
Speaking live on talkSPORT on Monday (22 September), former footballer and current pundit Danny Murphy argued that the Chelsea boss should swallow his pride and allow both Sterling and Disasi back to training, as it would be less hassle than having them exiled.
He said: “Most managers don’t want players who aren’t involved around the others because they feel like they’re cancerous. They can be. I’ve been in situations as somebody in this position, and also seen other players in it.
“I actually think, at times, if you are a good leader and you communicate well…there is a caveat to it where you think, for the sake of two players, Disasi and Sterling, if you’re the manager and you have a chat with them, you understand their position and they’re okay with it, just let them join in with the lads. It’s not going to be a drama.
“If there’s five or six, fine, it’s too many. If I was a coach, I’d like to think I’d have the emotional intelligence to deal with two players. I don’t think they should have to [train alone].”
Sterling and Disasi can still be Premier League stars but both needed to move this summer
Once upon a time, Blues outcast Sterling was one of the best wingers in the Premier League and throughout world football, but he has been unable to find his best form since departing Man City for Stamford Bridge in 2022.
An overall return of 34 goals and assists in 62 starts in his time at Chelsea is still not terrible, and can be looked upon as a positive, so it comes as no surprise to learn that top-flight clubs were interested in him this summer.
| Appearances | Starts | Goals | Assists |
| 81 | 62 | 19 | 15 |
Having a player of his quality and nous would have been massively beneficial to younger players in either West Ham or Fulham‘s squads, and the same can be argued for Disasi with Bournemouth, even if his career pales in comparison to the England winger.
What the exiled duo have each done now is effectively rule themselves out of action for four long months, during which they will lose match sharpness and potential suitors that may not see them as a viable option in January.
Both Sterling and Disasi will still likely have teams interested in their services after the turn of the year, but whether they are clubs that either wants to join, or those willing to offer them suitable terms, is unclear, and the pair should be regretting not simply cutting their losses and pushing to leave Chelsea last month.