Chelsea's Enzo Maresca Delivers Brutal Verdict on Raheem Sterling and 'Bomb Squad' Outcasts: No Way Back After Failed Summer Exits

 

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has delivered a stark message to the club's sidelined players, including Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi, confirming they will remain in exile with no pathway back into the first-team fold. Speaking ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash against Brentford, Maresca revealed he hasn't laid eyes on the outcasts since the season kicked off, as they continue to train separately at the club's Cobham facility.

"I didn't see Renato [Veiga], I didn't see Axel [Disasi], I didn’t see Raheem [Sterling], because they train at a different time on a different pitch," Maresca stated bluntly. "I haven’t seen them since we started the season." The Italian manager, who took over at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2024, emphasized that the so-called 'bomb squad' – players deemed surplus to requirements who failed to secure moves during the transfer window – are firmly out of his plans. "With us? No," he added when asked about any potential return.Sterling, 30, and Disasi, 27, were among several high-profile names pushed towards the exit door as Chelsea reshaped their squad under the multi-club ownership of BlueCo. Despite interest from various clubs, neither player departed, leaving them in limbo alongside the likes of David Datro Fofana. Maresca's comments underscore the ruthless approach at the west London club, where contracts remain long-term (Sterling until 2027, Disasi until 2029), but first-team opportunities are off the table.
This development comes amid Chelsea's solid start to the campaign, with Maresca focusing on integrating new signings and promoting youth. The absence of these players has not hindered progress, but it raises questions about squad harmony and the financial implications of keeping high earners on the fringes. As Chelsea aim to build on their early momentum, the 'bomb squad' saga serves as a warning to others: at Stamford Bridge, you're either in or you're out.