The 24/25 Premier League got under way this past weekend. The results and team selections were largely predictable. There was one glaring absence in the Chelsea squad. That omission was that of Raheem Sterling. The former Premier League winner wasn't injured or suspended. This decision caused a great debate and the player's agent only added fuel to the fire by making a statement.
"There are times when you win every year and times when you don’t win trophies. This football club more than not has been winning trophies," Raheem Sterling said in an interview with Chelsea's official website on the eve of their 2024-25 Premier League opener against Manchester City. "That’s the standards of Chelsea Football Club. We, as a group, are really determined to get back to those winning ways and getting that exciting feeling of challenging for stuff and winning stuff back for the fans. It’s a football club I am really dedicated to now, to try and win trophies and replicate some of the successes I have had in the past."
Sterling also said there is "no better thing to hear" than a manager emphasising the importance of getting the ball out to the wide men so they can "make the difference," which Enzo Maresca has done in his first couple of months at Chelsea. However, the 29-year-old's excitement for the new season wouldn't last long.
When Maresca named his first 20-man matchday squad for the champions' visit to Stamford Bridge, Sterling was nowhere to be seen. Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku started in a front three while Noni Madueke, summer signing, Pedro Neto and Mykhailo Mudryk made the bench.
Those selection decisions ultimately backfired, as City ran out 2-0 winners without every really needing to get out of second gear but Sterling won't be in line for an immediate return. It doesn't matter how "dedicated" he is; Chelsea are a complete mess under the current Todd Boehly-led ownership regime and he'd be wise to jump ship before the summer transfer window slams shut.
Sterling's representatives immediately released a statement on the winger's behalf after his omission from the matchday squad, which read: "Raheem Sterling is contracted to Chelsea Football Club for the next three years. He returned to England two weeks early to conduct individual training and has had a positive pre-season under the new coach, who he has developed a good working relationship with.
"He is committed, as ever, to delivering at the highest level for Chelsea FC and the fans, who he holds in high regard and given his inclusion in official club pre-match material this week, our expectation was that Raheem would be involved in this weekend’s fixture in some capacity. As a camp, we have always had positive dialogue with and assurance from, Chelsea FC in relation to Raheem’s future at the club, so we look forward to gaining clarity on the situation. Until then, we will continue to support Raheem’s desire to start the new season positively."
To make matters worse for Sterling, Maresca insisted it was purely a "technical" call, which suggests he is now sitting at the bottom of the attacking pecking order. That doesn't excuse his reaction. The statement wasn't just ill-judged and poorly timed, it smacked of entitlement.
No player has a divine right to play, as former England and Liverpool defender, Jamie Carragher, quickly pointed out in a damning social media post. He wrote: "This statement is ridiculous! As a camp………..! We look forward to gaining clarity…….!! No need for a statement, especially an hour before kick-off!! Just play better."
Sterling is not used to this kind of situation, though. Indeed, Sunday was the first Premier League opener he has been left out of since 2012 - when he graduated from Liverpool's academy.
There's no other club in world football with higher competition for places than Chelsea right now. Maresca has insisted there are only 30 players in his squad but 42 are listed on the club website, including Neto and the 11 new arrivals in the current transfer window. As of this writing, Chelsea are on the verge of signing Portugese star, Joao Felix.
This is a circus of Todd Boehly's creation. The LA Dodgers' co-owner fronted the Clearlake Capital group's purchase of Chelsea from Roman Abramovich in 2022 and quickly stamped his mark. Sterling was the glamour signing for the Blues that summer, as he left City after seven trophy-laden years in a £50m deal but there were eight other additions that brought Boehly's spending up to an eye-watering £228m. Two years on, the total investment in the squad has surpassed £1.1 billion.
Former Manchester United and England defender, Gary Neville, was far from supportive. He admits he could "never agree" with Raheem Sterling 's decision to publish a statement, via his team, just before his Chelsea team-mates took to the pitch.
Neville was unimpressed by Sterling's decision to go public but suggested that perhaps the ex-England star was sounding the alarm having grown frustrated by the club and how they conduct themselves.
He said, "I can never agree with a player putting a statement out an hour and a half before kick-off because of the fact he's got colleagues and team-mates. Forget the club, forget the manager - it happened once with Wayne Rooney at Man Utd - you're our team-mate so don't distract from what we're doing.
"So I think Raheem probably needs to go and have a chat and say that was poor timing. For Raheem, who I love to bits, he's experienced and if he's looking at things behind the scenes, he must be seeing things he doesn't like and feels like he needs to punch back.
"He might be punching back on behalf of himself but he may be punching back on behalf of Gallagher, Chalobah. He might be thinking I've got to alert people to what's going on here because it is unusual to put a statement out."
Gary Neville isn't the only pundit to criticise Sterling's statement. Jamie Redknapp said, "He said he's come back two weeks early, that's really good of him - you don't need to talk about it. Play better. He hasn't been great since he's been at Chelsea.
If the manager doesn't want to play you, just get on with it. Don't get your representatives to come out and do that, especially the day of the game. That's absolute rubbish, he should do better than that. His representatives should do better than that. That's a really poor statement. There's other players that could be putting statements out that aren't in the squad.
Micah Richards said, "Raheem and his team know exactly what they're doing - they're trying to make noise. There's a lot of noise around the club anyway. Putting that statement out before the game is not good enough."
Daniel Sturridge said, "The timing's not great, especially on the day of the game. He will feel he's good enough to help Chelsea. He's come back early, he's had a good pre-season, in his mind he's probably thinking he felt he'd be involved. They're probably surprised by it. I don't agree with the message going out on the day of the game. Sterling is a good enough player to be in the Chelsea squad."
That is not going to help his team-mates and probably his case of getting back into the team. He's called his manager out and let his team-mates down. That's my problem with it. He's better than that.
He hasn't done well enough. It's your opinion, if you think you've been doing well enough in pre-season, just keep doing better. The manager's opinion is the only one that counts and if he's not going to pick you that's unlucky. You have to get back in training tomorrow morning and be the best trainer and show that you want to play. That's the only way you're going to get back in the team."
Enzo Maresca said," I want Sterling but I want all of them. I can't have them all so some will have to leave. In the next few days, we will see if we can clarify the situation."
Speaking before the game, Maresca said, "The manager has to take decisions that people and players doesn't like - it's normal. It's just a technical decision, no more than that. We will see in the next days."
While Sterling’s frustration is understandable because he must feel he’s good enough to contribute, the execution of the public statement is the complete wrong way to go about it.
If anything, Chelsea’s Noni Madueke is the player that should’ve been kicking up a fuss this weekend. Instead, he’s remained professional. Based on pre-season, Madueke looked dead certain to get some minutes in the league opener at home to Man City. The 22-year-old right-winger was the joint-top scorer for the Blues on pre-season with three goals, plus he put in some really eye-catching performances.
However, Madueke found himself on the bench on Sunday and was actually an unused substitute.
Chelsea finished 12th in the Premier League in 2022-23 and sixth last season. Sterling was actually one of their most consistent performers as signs of improvement were shown under Mauricio Pochettino but Boehly and Co. reset the clock again by sacking the Argentine in May.
There will be no continuity or real progress at Stamford Bridge if Boehly continues to run the club like his own personal candy shop. "I want all 30 players but there is no space for all of them so some have to leave," Maresca said when pressed directly on whether Sterling is in his plans, which leaves the winger with a choice; stay and gradually fade into complete anonymity, or push for a transfer to a more stable club that will allow him to get his career back on track.
I find this whole situation quite interesting. If I were Sterling, I would be upset. Coming back from holiday two weeks early and putting in a good pre-season; I would fully expect to start or play some role in the match. However, if that doesn't happen, I would seek the reasoning behind the omission. I would take the reasoning, accept it and move on.
I wouldn't go out of my way to make a statement outlining my anger. I tend to align with the views of the various pundits who put in their two cents. I would act in a professional manner. Unless I'm told that I'm surplus to requirements, I would train and train to try to catch my coach's attention and to grab a spot on the team sheet.