Enzo Maresca confirms two senior Chelsea stars axed from squad with up to 20 players now training away from team

Enzo Maresca has confirmed two Chelsea stars have been axed from the first-team environment as he responds to talk of having more than 40 players on the books.

Much has been made about Chelsea having far too many players in their ranks, leading to a number being ostracised from proceedings.

After offloading Conor Gallagher, they have added Joao Felix, a former loanee, to the squad and handed him a seven-year contract having struck a deal with Atletico Madrid.

Chelsea are back in action on Thursday when they take on Servette in a Conference League play-off.

A number of players have been left out of the squad and in his press conference, Maresca has sated that only 21 players are involved in his training sessions.

Maresca said: "I am not working with 42 players. I am working with 21 players.

“The other 15-20 players are training apart. I don't see them. It's not a mess like it looks from outside. Absolutely not."

Romelu Lukaku and Trevoh Chalobah are two of the most high-profile players made surplus to requirements.

But there are two new additions to the so-called 'bomb squad', with Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell well out of favour and told to leave in search of regular game-time.

Image: Getty

Sterling was left out of the opener against former club Manchester City at the weekend and his camp put out a controversial statement.

"They are training apart," he explained on the two.

"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.

"Brutal? I don't think so. I just try to be honest. I spoke with Raheem before the City game. I told him he is going to struggle to get minutes with us.

"Chilly, he is a lovely guy, but he is going to struggle in his position with us. If you find this brutal, it is up to you to decide."

Maresca has retained the same stance on Chilwell, the club's vice-captain, previously telling him to find a new club.

Sterling and Chilwell were both omitted from the A-list submitted to UEFA for the Conference League clash, as was Wesley Fofana.

Tosin Adarabioyo's name was initially not featured before later being added due to an admin error.