Liam Rosenior Shocks with Unexpected Lifeline for Forgotten Chelsea Star
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior has brought Axel Disasi back into senior squad training while indicating that separate arrangements are being made for fellow "bomb squad" player Raheem Sterling.
Despite no clear wrongdoing on their part, both Disasi and Sterling were sidelined during the season's opening months. The pair had loan spells last campaign and couldn't secure permanent exits during the summer window. However, instead of integrating them into the main squad as typically expected, previous Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca excluded them from all senior training sessions during his tenure.
The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) considered stepping in to support Disasi and Sterling earlier this season but received a strong rejection from Maresca. The Italian tactician expressed some understanding for their situation, yet when questioned directly, he firmly dismissed claims they were being mistreated.
"My father is 75 years old and for 50 years he has been a fisherman, working from 2 o'clock in the morning until 10 o'clock in the morning," he responded sharply in September. "This is hard in life, not a player, the way they work."
Rosenior, whose father Leroy was a distinguished footballer and coach rather than a maritime worker, has adopted a more compassionate approach since taking over from Maresca.
Following Disasi's participation in Tuesday's public training session ahead of their Champions League encounter with David Luiz's Pafos, Rosenior explained: "I had a very productive discussion with him recently.
"I told all the players upon my arrival that everyone starts fresh, so it was appropriate for me to speak with him. He's lacking in terms of his conditioning, his match sharpness, and we'll support him through that."
Disasi wasn't named in Chelsea's Champions League roster for the group stage and would need re-registration to participate in domestic fixtures. The French defender doesn't even have a player page on the club's official website.
Nevertheless, he has moved closer to returning to action—whether for Chelsea or elsewhere—an opportunity Sterling hasn't received yet.
Rosenior: 'Different Things' Planned for Raheem Sterling
Rosenior: 'Different Things' Planned for Raheem Sterling
Disasi's situation is inevitably connected to Sterling's prospects. However, Rosenior correctly noted that both players are being handled as separate cases with distinct requirements at different career phases.
"We're having discussions with Raheem currently about various aspects of his career path," Rosenior stated. "Hopefully that situation will become clearer within the next few days."
At 31 years old and already possessing four Premier League championships, Sterling doesn't necessarily share the same priorities as his 27-year-old banished teammate. The former England winger is reportedly focusing on a permanent switch to Fulham after dismissing interest from West Ham United early in the January transfer period.
Reports suggest that Sterling, who was loaned to Arsenal last season, turned down approaches from German champions Bayern Munich and newly crowned Serie A titleholders Napoli last summer to stay in London with his family. Whether his hesitation to relocate internationally persists remains uncertain.
The number of top-tier clubs from any nation willing to pursue a player who hasn't participated in structured professional training—much less competitive matches—for nearly half a year will become evident in the upcoming weeks.