Chelsea's 'Bomb Squad' Blues: Sterling and Disasi's Exile Sparks PFA Intervention and Maresca's Fisherman Analogy
London, September 20, 2025 – In a saga that's gripped the Premier League like a bad soap opera, Chelsea's treatment of outcasts Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi has drawn sharp scrutiny from the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), with manager Enzo Maresca offering a rather salty retort involving his father's fishing woes. As the Blues prepare for a blockbuster clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford, the spotlight has firmly shifted to the duo's uncertain futures at Stamford Bridge.
Sterling, the £50m England international signed from Manchester City in 2022, and Disasi, the £38.7m French defender who arrived from Monaco a year later, find themselves firmly in the 'bomb squad'—training separately from the first team after failing to secure summer moves.
Sterling, on a staggering £325,000-a-week deal until 2027, rejected loan offers from Napoli, Bayer Leverkusen, and Bayern Munich to stay in London for his young family. Disasi, contracted until 2029, turned down Premier League interest from Sunderland, Bournemouth, and West Ham while holding out for a Monaco return that never materialized. Both spent last season on loan—Sterling at Arsenal, Disasi at Aston Villa—but returned to preseason isolation, missing Chelsea's Club World Cup triumph.
The PFA stepped in this week after Sterling's Instagram post revealed his 8pm training slots, far from ideal for a father of four. Discussions with the club have led to adjusted schedules, including lunchtime sessions with the under-21s and dedicated coaches at Chelsea's Surrey base. "We're satisfied with the training conditions now," a PFA source told BBC Sport, emphasizing the need for optimal fitness despite their exclusion. Sky Sports' Kaveh Solhekol added that the pair don't always train alone, countering reports of total isolation.
Maresca, however, dismissed concerns with a dash of Italian flair—and a nod to his roots. "I've been in Raheem and Axel's situation as a player; it's not the best feeling," the Chelsea boss admitted on Friday. "But my father is 75 and worked as a fisherman from 2am to 10am for 50 years. That's hard life—not players." The comment, echoing in press rooms, has divided fans: some see it as tough love, others as tone-deaf amid mental health debates in football.
With no January moves on the horizon yet, Sterling and Disasi remain registered in Chelsea's squad but sidelined for Saturday's showdown. Maresca confirmed: "They train separately; the plan continues." As Chelsea chases a top-four spot, this internal drama could either light a fire under the squad or expose deeper fractures. For now, the 'bomb squad' waits—but the clock is ticking.
Sterling, on a staggering £325,000-a-week deal until 2027, rejected loan offers from Napoli, Bayer Leverkusen, and Bayern Munich to stay in London for his young family. Disasi, contracted until 2029, turned down Premier League interest from Sunderland, Bournemouth, and West Ham while holding out for a Monaco return that never materialized. Both spent last season on loan—Sterling at Arsenal, Disasi at Aston Villa—but returned to preseason isolation, missing Chelsea's Club World Cup triumph.
The PFA stepped in this week after Sterling's Instagram post revealed his 8pm training slots, far from ideal for a father of four. Discussions with the club have led to adjusted schedules, including lunchtime sessions with the under-21s and dedicated coaches at Chelsea's Surrey base. "We're satisfied with the training conditions now," a PFA source told BBC Sport, emphasizing the need for optimal fitness despite their exclusion. Sky Sports' Kaveh Solhekol added that the pair don't always train alone, countering reports of total isolation.
Maresca, however, dismissed concerns with a dash of Italian flair—and a nod to his roots. "I've been in Raheem and Axel's situation as a player; it's not the best feeling," the Chelsea boss admitted on Friday. "But my father is 75 and worked as a fisherman from 2am to 10am for 50 years. That's hard life—not players." The comment, echoing in press rooms, has divided fans: some see it as tough love, others as tone-deaf amid mental health debates in football.
With no January moves on the horizon yet, Sterling and Disasi remain registered in Chelsea's squad but sidelined for Saturday's showdown. Maresca confirmed: "They train separately; the plan continues." As Chelsea chases a top-four spot, this internal drama could either light a fire under the squad or expose deeper fractures. For now, the 'bomb squad' waits—but the clock is ticking.
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