Rio Ferdinand: Raheem Sterling’s Situation at Chelsea is a "Problem"
Raheem Sterling’s future at Chelsea remains uncertain, and former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand has weighed in on the situation. In a recent discussion, Ferdinand described Sterling’s situation as a "problem" and criticized Chelsea’s handling of the situation.
Sterling was left out of Chelsea’s squad for their match against Manchester City on Sunday, and his camp subsequently released a statement seeking clarity on his future at the club. The 28-year-old has been linked with a move away from Chelsea before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.
Ferdinand believes that Sterling has been left in the dark about his situation at Chelsea, with no clear communication from the club’s hierarchy. "There’s nobody delivering that message with any clarity, and what I’m hearing is he’s got no understanding of where his situation lies," Ferdinand said.
Former Manchester City and England star Joleon Lescott questioned who at Chelsea was responsible for the lack of communication, with Ferdinand responding, "Not the manager." Lescott added, "That’s the thing. So Raheem, it’s like I don’t agree with it with anyone but someone of that stature in a Chelsea team, that is wild."
Ferdinand also highlighted the potential impact on Chelsea’s young players, who have been influenced by Sterling’s presence at the club. "I see all the young players especially in that squad talk about Raheem, it’s like uncle Raheem, Cole Palmer it’s uncle Raheem and he’s looked after a lot of these boys, give them a lot of advice when they come to him," Ferdinand said.
Ferdinand warned that Chelsea’s decision to leave Sterling out of the squad could create a problem in the dressing room. "So when you kick that guy in the changing room, all of them are going to limp at some point and they ain’t going to take it well and you create a problem in your own dressing room," he said.
Chelsea’s assistant coach Enzo Maresca defended the decision to leave Sterling out of the squad, citing a "technical decision" and stating that managers are paid to make decisions that players may not like.
The situation remains unclear, with Sterling’s future at Chelsea hanging in the balance. One thing is certain, however: the situation is a "problem" that needs to be addressed.
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