Enzo Maresca Fires Back at Chelsea 'Bomb Squad' Critics Following PFA Showdown

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca drew upon his fisherman father's struggles to vigorously justify his club's handling of surplus players like Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi following reports that the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) had stepped in to protect their welfare.

Both excluded squad members spent portions of the previous season away on loan deals. Sterling experienced a disappointing spell across London at Arsenal while Disasi moved to Aston Villa during the January window. Neither footballer managed to secure a permanent transfer and have yet to feature in any matchday squad for Chelsea this term.

Completely outside Maresca's tactical considerations, they remain training, dining and changing separately from the main squad. Earlier this month, Chelsea's head coach openly confessed that he hasn't encountered the duo at all throughout the current campaign.

Following this disclosure, the PFA has stepped in, as reported by BBC Sport. The organization representing active and former professional players throughout England's league system is believed to be worried that Sterling and Disasi lack the "platform to train to an optimum level."

The PFA is anticipated to highlight FIFA's guidelines regarding the unfair isolation of players, which may constitute "abusive conduct" under certain conditions.

Article 15 within FIFA's Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players states: "An established professional who has, during the season, featured in less than 10% of the official fixtures in which his club has participated may end his contract early based on sporting just cause." This extreme measure can only be activated within the initial 15 days after the season's concluding match.

Maresca expressed some understanding for the pair when questioned by journalists on Friday. "I've experienced Raheem's position and Axel's position as a player and certainly I understand that it's not the most pleasant feeling for a footballer," he admitted, "because if you are a player that indicates that you desire to train and participate in matches and then for various reasons the circumstances are what they are at this time and I know that the club is providing them the chance to work properly. This is all I can express."

The atmosphere started to change when Maresca was pressed further on the matter. "I understand that it's something that you [the media] enjoy and you wish to discuss but it's not exclusively Chelsea, it's every club worldwide," he responded irritably.

"I can assure you, Italy, Spain, England, France, USA, Brazil, every club globally, when for whatever reason the player and the club cannot reach any agreement and you provide the player all the resources to conduct training sessions and to do everything but if you are not included in the squad you are not included in the squad."

Maresca truly erupted when the players' psychological wellbeing was mentioned. "My father is 75 years old and for 50 years he has worked as a fisherman, laboring from 2 o'clock in the morning until 10 o'clock in the morning," he retorted sharply. "This represents hardship in life, not a player, the manner they work."