My fisherman father has ‘a hard life’, not Raheem Sterling, says Enzo Maresca as Chelsea boss discusses exiled player

Sterling and Disasi have been frozen out at Chelsea under Maresca and have trained separately from the first-team squad.

“I’ve been in Raheem’s and Axel’s situation as a player,” said Chelsea manager Maresca.

“For sure, I know it is not the best feeling for a player. For different reasons, the situation is the situation at the moment, but I know the club is giving them the situation to work in the right way.

“It’s something you like to talk about, but it’s not just Chelsea; it’s any club in the world, I can promise you. Italy, Spain, England, France, USA, Brazil, any country in the world. For any reason the player and the club doesn’t find a solution, if you are not involved in the squad, you are not involved in the squad.”

Asked about the challenges Sterling and Disasi are dealing with, Maresca said: “My father is 75 years old and for 50 years he’s been a fisherman, working from two o’clock in the morning till 10 o’clock in the morning.

“This is a hard life – not the way a player works.”

Sterling is reportedly one of Chelsea’s highest-earning players and is under contract until 2027, while Disasi’s contract expires in 2029.

New signing Alejandro Garnacho could make his first start for Chelsea against former side Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Garnacho has so far made two substitute appearances since joining Chelsea.

“We are happy with the way he’s adapting to our style, what we want from our wingers,” said Maresca. “I think he’s ready to start tomorrow.”