Finally, Enzo Maresca reacts to Raheem Sterling’s statement as the Chelsea row breaks out

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Maresca Responds to Sterling’s Omission and Statement

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has addressed the growing controversy surrounding his decision to leave Raheem Sterling out of the squad for the recent clash against Manchester City. Chelsea fell to a 2-0 defeat, with goals from Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic sealing the victory for City.

Sterling’s Reaction to Being Dropped

In response to his exclusion, Raheem Sterling released a statement through his representatives. The statement emphasized that Sterling’s camp expected him to be involved in the match in some capacity. It also reiterated Sterling’s commitment to Chelsea, despite the uncertainty surrounding his future. His team expressed a desire to seek “clarity on the situation” moving forward.

Maresca’s Reaction Post-Match

After the game, Maresca was questioned about Sterling’s statement. The Chelsea boss seemed unbothered by the situation, claiming that he had not seen Sterling’s response. “To be honest, I didn’t see the statement,” Maresca remarked. “I have nothing to say. It was a tactical decision, no more than that. If clarification is needed in the coming days, we’ll address it. But for now, I’ve been clear—it was just a technical choice.”

When pressed further on whether Sterling had a future at Chelsea, Maresca stood firm on his stance. He reiterated that his decision was purely tactical and had been communicated to the player. “I’ve been quite clear,” he added. “It was simply a technical decision.”

The Timing of Sterling’s Statement

Maresca was also asked if Sterling’s statement, released shortly before kick-off, had caused any disruption to the team. However, the Italian manager once again downplayed any potential impact, stating that he had not seen the statement at the time and was unaware of its release. “No, to be honest, I didn’t see it,” Maresca concluded. “So I don’t know.”