Joe Cole addresses ‘chaotic’ situation at Chelsea situation after Raheem Sterling treatment - ‘It doesn’t sit well’
Published 24/08/2024 at 12:53 GMT+1
Ex-Chelsea star Joe Cole has labelled the current situation at Stamford Bridge as "unprecedented" as The Blues' turbulent summer transfer window continues. Raheem Sterling has been axed from the squad by new manager Enzo Maresca and stripped of his No. 7 shirt. “It just looks like chaos from the outside, you’ve just got to say it how it is," Cole told TNT Sports.
‘It looks like chaos!’ - Cole gives honest verdict on ‘unprecedented’ Chelsea situation
Video credit: TNT Sports
Joe Cole has said that the situation at Chelsa is “unprecedented” and “looks like chaos from the outside” following the treatment of Raheem Sterling.
The Blues have made 10 signings in another busy summer transfer window at Stamford Bridge, which seems to have signalled the end of Sterling’s time at the club.
The England star was left out of Chelsea’s squad for their opening Premier League match against Manchester City last weekend with new manager Enzo Maresca admitting the player was not in his plans.
Sterling was later stripped of his No. 7 shirt which was handed to new signing Pedro Neto in a controversial move behind the scenes.
Ahead of Manchester United’s trip to Brighton & Hove Albion - live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - Cole gave an honest view on the current affairs at his former club.
“It’s just unprecedented, isn’t it?” he said on TNT Sports. “That amount of players at a club that size, where is the direction of the club? What do they want to achieve?
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Video credit: TNT Sports
“You have an idea of what Manchester United are trying to do, what Manchester City are trying to do, Liverpool. With Chelsea, to spend the amount of money on the players and there’s no real clarity.
“You’ve got to think, 40 to 50 players - we don’t even know the exact number - in a squad, in a building, all with ambition to play for Chelsea.
“It just looks like chaos from the outside, you’ve just got to say it how it is. For players, Raheem Sterling’s treatment, Connor Gallagher, Trevor Chalboah is still in the building.
“It doesn’t sit well with Chelsea fans and it is very hard to explain in the position I’m in as an ex-player. It’s unprecedented. That amount of players at the club, I don’t see how it works.”
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Sterling came under fire after his camp decided to release a statement just minutes before Chelsea’s opener against Man City following his omission.
But Rio Ferdinand has jumped to the defence of Sterling and admitted he would have done the same to “force the hand of the hierarchy”.
“There wasn’t any communication to him, I think communication is one of the keywords,” he told TNT Sports.
“If there is no communication from above as to what your key role is going to be - given you have played most of pre-season - and all of a sudden on the evening of the [first game of the season] you’re told you’re surplus to requirements.
“You have to force the hand of the people in power to come and talk and get to the table. I think that was the point of the statement. I would have done that. I would have forced the hand of the owners.”
Watch and stream Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United and more Premier League action live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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