Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has hinted that Raheem Sterling may have to leave Stamford Bridge before the end of the summer transfer window.
Throughout pre-season, Sterling was a regular fixture in the Blues squad, participating in each of the six friendlies without playing more than 63 minutes in a single match.
The expectation was that the England international would be selected among the Chelsea substitutes for Sunday's Premier League opener with Manchester City on Sunday.
Instead, the 29-year-old was the major surprise omission from the squad, leading to his representatives releasing a statement to express their surprise at the decision soon after it was made public knowledge.
That move is likely to divide opinion, whether that be behind the scenes or among the fanbase, and Maresca was naturally quizzed on the decision in his post-match press conference after a 2-0 defeat.
"It was a technical decision"
As quoted by football.london, Maresca explained the situation, saying: "I don't know. The only thing I can say is that it was a technical decision and in the next day, we will want to sit and clarify the situation but it is nothing more than that.
"For all the players, they are Chelsea players. If they are going to be Chelsea players, then we will try to use them but no more than technical decision."
When directly asked if he wanted Sterling in his squad, Maresca added: "I want Raheem Sterling but I want all the 30 players we have. But there is no space for all of them. So for some of them, they have to leave."
As well as Sterling being left out of the squad, the likes of Noni Madueke and Mykhaylo Mudryk were not introduced from the bench as Chelsea chased the game in the second half.
Maresca's preference was new signing Pedro Neto, while his third and substitution window was rushed in order to replace the injured Marc Cucurella.
What now?
The fact that Chelsea have a Europa Conference League playoff fixture against Servette on Thursday may answer the question of whether Sterling has a future at Chelsea.
There will need to be a balance between naming a team that can establish a lead in the two-legged tie and some players being rested for Sunday's league fixture versus Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Reports have always indicated that Sterling wants to remain at Chelsea, yet he will also not want to waste a period of his career with very little game time.
As it stands, it appears that he sits at least fifth in the pecking order for the flanks, and Nicolas Jackson could be used ahead of him if Chelsea sign a new centre-forward. body check tags ::
