- Raheem Sterling issued a statement after being left out of Chelsea’s season opener
- Gary Neville claimed the decision to speak out had multiple motives
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Gary Neville claims Raheem Sterling’s statement after being left out of Chelsea’s Premier League opener may also have been in defence of his team-mates.
After another hectic transfer window at Stamford Bridge, the Blues opened their Premier League campaign on Sunday with a clash against reigning champions Manchester City.
Enzo Maresca made some bold decisions ahead of his first competitive match as manager, perhaps the most important being the omission of Sterling from the matchday squad.
Following his absence, Sterling’s team shared a statement with Mail Sport, expressing their shock at his absence and stressing that they intend to ‘get clarity’ over his future at the club.
Neville indicated in an interview with Monday Night Football that the statement’s release may also have been motivated by several of Sterling’s team-mates feeling left out by the club’s bloated squad.
Gary Neville suggested Raheem Sterling’s statement may have been intended as a defence of his teammates
A number of Blues stars have been left out as Enzo Maresca’s bloated squad continues to grow this summer
“What I would say is, for Raheem, who I think is a really good lad, I love him dearly as Carragher said, I’ve worked with him for a long time and he’s got experience now,” Neville said on Sky Sports.
“I think when he looks at everything that goes on behind the scenes to do what he did yesterday, he sees things that he doesn’t like and he has to push back against them.
He may be striking back on his own behalf, but he may also be striking back on behalf of others. [Conor] Gallagher. He may be hitting back on behalf of [Trevoh] Chalobah, who is on the development team.
“He may be thinking, ‘I have to warn people about what’s going on here and the only way I can do that is to look at my own situation right now.’”
“Because it’s unusual to make a statement now that I didn’t expect Raheem Sterling to have done that.”
Gallagher regularly served as captain last season in Recce James’ absence, but the young academy player found himself at an impasse this summer when a move to Athletico Madrid fell through.
Academy graduates Conor Gallagher and Trevoh Chalobah are expected to leave the club this summer
The deal appeared to have fallen through when the Blues abandoned their pursuit of Samu Omorodion, but now appears to have been completed after they turned their attention to fellow Colchoneros star Joao Felix.
Meanwhile, Chalobah has been left out of Chelsea’s pre-season squad and banned from the first-team training complex ahead of a move away from the club.