The Problems of Chelsea’s Bloated Squad: Raheem Sterling’s Discontent and Squad Size Concerns
Raheem Sterling’s discontent with his role at Chelsea was made public just an hour before their season opener against Manchester City. His representatives released a statement expressing their desire for “clarity” about his position in the club. Chelsea currently has a massive 42-man squad, with only 30 players according to manager Enzo Maresca. This includes 11 summer signings, making the squad extremely bloated. With only 20 players fitting into a matchday squad, Sterling was left out of the first game, resulting in a 2-0 loss for Chelsea.
Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards criticized Sterling for “letting his teammates down,” while ex-Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp called the statement “absolute rubbish.” Pat Nevin, a former Chelsea winger, suggested that Sterling may be the next player to leave the club, alongside Conor Gallagher, Ben Chilwell, Trevoh Chalobah, and Romelu Lukaku. Maresca himself acknowledged the need for some players to leave, stating, “there is no space for all of them.”
This situation marks the first time since 2012, during Sterling’s time at Liverpool, that he has not played on the opening day of a Premier League season. Maresca referred to his absence as a “technical decision,” leaving room for further clarification. Sterling’s time at Chelsea has not gone as planned since his £50m move from Manchester City two years ago. While he has scored a decent number of goals as a winger, he has seen a decline in performance and has lost his place in the England team since the 2022 World Cup.
The timing of Sterling’s statement drew criticism from Richards, who emphasized the need for him to accept the manager’s decision and deal with it. Nevin speculated that this situation could potentially lower Sterling’s transfer fee, making him a more affordable option for other clubs. However, with three years left on his contract, Sterling is unlikely to accept a pay cut.
Sterling’s discontent is just one example of the uncertainty surrounding Chelsea’s squad. The club has spent approximately £185m on 11 signings this summer, adding to an already large squad. Academy products Gallagher and Chalobah, as well as Lukaku, are training away from the first team. Gallagher’s move to Atletico Madrid has been temporarily halted due to a collapsed deal involving striker Samu Omorodion. Chalobah is attracting interest from several Premier League clubs, and Chilwell has been given permission to leave this summer.
Maresca, who took over from Mauricio Pochettino this summer, recognizes that each player’s situation is different. He acknowledges that playing time is crucial for Carney Chukwuemeka, but questions whether he will be able to provide the necessary game time. The co-controlling owners of Chelsea have spent around £1.5bn on players since taking over two years ago, leading to a squad that is difficult to manage.
Former manager Graham Potter faced similar challenges during his time at Chelsea, inheriting a large squad that required reconfiguring the dressing room to accommodate everyone. The club had to leave Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of their Champions League squad despite his participation in the group stage due to squad size limitations. Maresca will now have to name a Premier League squad of 25 players, with at least eight of them considered homegrown.
Overall, Chelsea’s bloated squad has led to discontent among players like Raheem Sterling and challenges for the manager in keeping everyone happy. The club’s excessive spending and lack of squad management have created an impossible job for Maresca. It remains to be seen how Chelsea will navigate these issues and streamline their squad for the upcoming season.