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RAHEEM STERLING OPENS UP, EXPOSES STRUGGLES DURING CHELSEA SIDELINES PERIOD

Exiled Chelsea star Raheem Sterling remains absent from Enzo Maresca's plans. The winger posts training footage with his academy amid his ongoing exclusion from the first-team squad at Stamford Bridge.

Raheem Sterling opens up, exposes struggles during Chelsea sidelines period
Chelsea striker Sterling speaks truth - Photo Credit: Getty Images

Raheem Sterling, who is still not included in the Chelsea team, has shared an update on social media. Since returning to Stamford Bridge this summer following a season-long loan at Arsenal, the former forward for Liverpool and Manchester City has not participated in a competitive game.

He played his final game in May, helping the Gunners defeat Southampton 2-1. Sterling is still sidelined because their head coach, Enzo Maresca, has refused to include him in his plans after he was unable to find a move out of west London before the summer transfer market closed.

Since there are any games coming up, Sterling has been occupied off the field. With the description, "Repetitions on Left Foot Finishing," he shared a video of himself instructing young players in shooting drills on Instagram. Every little detail counts.

As part of his RS7 Academy initiative, which he started in August, Sterling is offering this training session to "provide young players encouragement, structure and belief." Having previously compared Sterling's circumstances to his father's arduous workdays as a fisherman, Maresca may value his commitment off the field.

Maresca was questioned on the difficult situation faced by players who were left out of the first team squad and had been unable to find other places to transfer after the summer transfer window ended. "My father is 75 years old and has been a fisherman for 50 years, working from two o'clock in the morning to ten o'clock in the morning," he responded.

Maresca clarified: "Life is sad like this. Not a player, and the manner in which they operate.

"As a player, I have been in Raheem's and Axel's [Disasi's] shoes, and I can tell you that it is not the best feeling when you want to practice and play, but for some reason, the circumstances are what they are. This is all I can say because I am certain that the club is providing them with the opportunity to work properly.

"I can assure you that any club in the world is affected, not only Chelsea. Italy, Spain, England, France, the United States, Brazil, or any other club in the world... when the player and the club are unable to come up with a solution for any reason.

Additionally, you provide the player with all the resources they need to complete training sessions and other tasks. However, you are not a part of the squad if you are not a member.

When Maresca took over in June of last year, his position became clear when he remarked, "I spoke with Raheem... I said that he is going to struggle to get minutes with us." The winger will now have to wait until the winter transfer window for a potential departure from West London after reportedly declining summer loan offers from Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, and Napoli.

WHY WAS COLE PALMER SUBBED? THE REAL REASON BEHIND THE STAMFORD BRIDGE BOOS

Fans booed as Cole Palmer was subbed in Chelsea's draw with Bournemouth. Learn why Maresca was absent and what’s next for the Blues.

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Managing Cole Palmer’s return

After Chelsea's 2-2 tie with Bournemouth, assistant coach Willy Caballero defended the choice to sub off Cole Palmer, even though fans at Stamford Bridge were angry about Enzo Maresca's move.

Fans booed, yelling, You don't know what you're doing! when Palmer—who'd been one of the team's better players—was taken out in the 63rd minute. The home team was trying to score and break their bad Premier League streak at the time.

Chelsea has only won one of their last seven league games. Caballero said afterward that head coach Enzo Maresca, who wasn't there for the post-game interviews due to illness, is still a role model for everyone at the club.

Still, the pressure is on the coach after yet another result slipped away. Chelsea has now lost 13 points at home from winning positions.

The mood got especially sour when Palmer, who just came back from an injury, was taken off in the second half.

Every fan wants the best players on the field, Caballero said. We do, too. But Cole is coming back from a long injury. So we have to figure out the best substitutions to win the game while also keeping our players healthy. We need them for the entire season.

Caballero said about Maresca's absence, "He hasn't been feeling well for the past two days." He had a fever two days ago. He did the last two practices because he wanted to get the team ready. But after the game, he went to the locker room and asked me to fill in because he wasn't feeling well.

He's handling it well and is very professional. He puts in a lot of hours every day, even when he wasn't feeling well the last two days. He loves to train and coach. He's a role model for me and the rest of the staff.

Bournemouth took the lead after six minutes when David Brooks scored on his second try after Robert Sanchez made a save. Then, Palmer scored a penalty to tie the game for Chelsea.

Next, Enzo Fernandez put the home team ahead, but the Blues couldn't hold on to their lead again. Justin Kluivert tied the score before halftime after Chelsea failed to handle a long throw-in from Antoine Semenyo.

There's been a lot of talk that this would be Semenyo's last game for Bournemouth before he moves to Manchester City soon. Before leaving the field, he seemed to say goodbye to the fans who had traveled to see the game.

Still, head coach Andoni Iraola was sure he'd play against Arsenal on Saturday.

It's not his last game here with us, he said. I can't say for sure, but I think he'll play.

He needs to rest. We've played two tough games in three days. We have Arsenal at home, so we're getting ready for another one, a tough game against the leaders. He's going to be important for us.

BREAKING: ENZO MARESCA SKIPS MEDIA AS CHELSEA CRISIS DEEPENS! GET THE HEALTH UPDATE

Enzo Maresca missed the post-match media due to a fever after Chelsea's 2-2 draw. Willy Caballero provides an urgent update on his health.

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Chelsea's winless run continues as Maresca falls ill

Enzo Maresca skipped media interviews after Chelsea's 2-2 tie with Bournemouth because he was sick.

The Blues coach was supposed to chat after his team snagged a point against Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.

But right before he was about to talk about the game, news dropped that Maresca wasn't feeling good.

So, his assistant, Willy Caballero, stepped in to handle things in west London.

Caballero shared an update on Maresca: He's been under the weather for a couple of days, Caballero said. He had a fever two days ago.

After the game, he went to the locker room and asked me to fill in for him since he wasn't feeling well.

Caballero was asked if he'd be in charge against Manchester City on Sunday, like he was against Villa during Maresca's suspension.

"I'm not sure," he said. I just want Enzo to get better. I think he'll be fine in a day or two.

The draw with Bournemouth means Chelsea has only won one of their last seven Premier League games.

Fans were clearly annoyed during the second half when Cole Palmer was subbed out for Joao Pedro.

Palmer just got back to playing regularly after a groin injury, but some Chelsea fans wondered why he was taken out.

About the boos, Caballero said, "Of course, every fan wants their best players on the field, and so do we."

But Cole is coming off a long injury, so we have to figure out the right subs for the game and also look out for our players since we didn't have him for a while.

Chelsea and Bournemouth had a boring 0-0 draw in their previous match earlier in the month.

But the game at Stamford Bridge was totally different, with Bournemouth taking the lead early on through David Brooks.

Palmer leveled the score with a penalty, and then Enzo Fernandez blasted a shot into the top corner to put Chelsea ahead.

But Chelsea failed to defend a long throw for the second time, allowing Justin Kluivert to score for Bournemouth.

After playing City, Chelsea will face their west London rivals Fulham before an FA Cup game away against Charlton Athletic.

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