Jamie Carragher sends Raheem Sterling savage message after ‘ridiculous’ Chelsea statement
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Carragher’s Straightforward Message to Sterling:
Jamie Carragher has delivered a blunt piece of advice to Raheem Sterling after the Chelsea winger’s recent statement regarding being left out of the squad for their match against his former team, Manchester City.
Sterling Dropped from Squad Amid Uncertainty
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca made a bold decision by excluding Sterling from the squad entirely for the Sunday showdown at Stamford Bridge. Despite their 2-0 loss to City, Chelsea did show some encouraging moments during the game. However, Sterling’s absence raised eyebrows, especially given his history with the club.
Before the match, Sterling’s representatives released a statement seeking clarity on the England international’s future at Chelsea. This move, however, didn’t sit well with Carragher, who expressed his disapproval, according to the Mirror.
Carragher Reacts on Social Media
Taking to social media platform X, Carragher voiced his frustration with the timing and necessity of the statement. While he acknowledged that he’s a big fan of Sterling as both a player and a person, he found the announcement unnecessary. The Sky Sports pundit stated, “I’m a massive fan of Raheem as a player and a person. I’m not a fan of the Chelsea setup under the current ownership, but this statement is ridiculous! The camp says, ‘We look forward to gaining clarity’ – there’s no need for a statement, especially an hour before kick-off. Just play better.”
Sterling’s Camp Seeks Clarity on His Future
The statement from Sterling’s camp, which was released prior to Chelsea’s match against Manchester City, read: “Raheem Sterling is under contract with Chelsea Football Club for the next three years. He returned to England two weeks early to conduct individual training and has had a strong pre-season under the new coach, with whom he has developed a good working relationship.
“He remains committed to performing at the highest level for Chelsea FC and its fans, whom he holds in high regard. Given his inclusion in the club’s official pre-match materials, our expectation was that Raheem would feature in this weekend’s game in some capacity.
“As a camp, we have always had positive dialogue with Chelsea FC regarding Raheem’s future, and we look forward to gaining clarity on the situation. Until then, we will continue to support Raheem’s goal of starting the new season on a positive note.”
Maresca Dismisses Tensions, Emphasizes Technical Decision
Despite the stir caused by Sterling’s statement, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca downplayed any notion of friction between the two parties. Speaking to Sky Sports, Maresca explained, “These things happen all the time. Coaches have to make decisions, and sometimes players don’t agree – that’s completely normal. It was purely a technical decision, nothing more. We’ll see what happens in the coming days.”
Maresca further elaborated on the fitness of his squad, noting that few players are currently at 100% fitness. He added, “It’s the same across all teams right now. Nicolas [Jackson] and Cole [Palmer] are improving, and Pedro [Neto] just joined us a few days ago. He’ll need more time, but hopefully, we can give him some minutes soon.”
