Enzo Maresca was in no mood for hard-hitting questions during his pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
The Chelsea boss faced reporters ahead of the Blues’ Europa Conference League play-off first-leg clash with Swiss side Servette.
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The Italian has barely got his feet under the desk at Stamford Bridge but has been inundated with questions surrounding club affairs.
Following the controversy surrounding Enzo Fernandez’s fallout with members of the Chelsea squad for his part in Argentina players’ racially-charged chant at French stars of African descent, Maresca would be forgiven for thinking all focus would be on preparing for matches.
Instead, Maresca has been locked in a battle with sections of the media questioning the Chelsea boss on which of the 41 registered players fall into his plans.
More recently, the former Leicester City manager was pressed on the length of contracts handed out to the club’s new signings.
A report revealed on Tuesday that Chelsea’s remaining stars have a combined 191 years of contract remaining with second-placed Tottenham way behind with 97 years.
The eight and nine year deals handed out to players such as Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Mykhailo Mudryk and Cole Palmer have been far from the conventional approach.
And the topic was raised again on Wednesday after the club completed the signing of Joao Felix on a six-year deal.
Maresca, who had hoped the questions were centred on Thursday’s tie, snapped back at a talkSPORT reporter who again raised the question as to whether the contract length of players both in or out of his plans would affect whether they would remain at the club or not.
“They can have 20 years contract. I don’t care, it’s not my problem, I am here to make right decisions for the team,” said a frosty Maresca.
Two players deemed surplus to requirements are England internationals Ben Chilwell and Raheem Sterling who were both left out of Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City.
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Chilwell had already been informed by Maresca that it would be in his best interests to find another club. Manchester United have since been linked with a move for the star.
Meanwhile, Sterling looks to have played his last game for the club after his representatives issued a statement sharing their disappointment and surprise at his omission from Sunday’s match squad.
The 29-year-old has since suffered another blow after the Chelsea boss left him out of the squad to face Servette.
“They are training apart,” Maresca told reporters on the pair’s future. “The situation with both of them is quite clear. We have a big squad and it’s impossible to give all of them minutes. If they are looking for minutes it’s better for them to leave.
“I try to be honest. I spoke with Raheem before the Manchester City game. I said he will struggle to get minutes with us and this was the reason why he was out.
“And with Chilly, he’s lovely guy, but I said he is going to struggle with his position. It’s not brutal, it’s just honest.”
