Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi will continue to be excluded from the first-team squad, training separately in what has been dubbed the "bomb squad." Since the start of the season, neither player has participated in team activities with the main group, as they utilize a different pitch, gym, and dressing room.

Sterling, who is 30 years old, expressed reluctance to join clubs like Juventus or Bayer Leverkusen during the summer transfer window, preferring to remain close to his family in London. He spent the previous season on loan at Arsenal, but the Gunners showed no interest in making the move permanent. His substantial wages, reported to be £325,000 per week, have likely limited his options, with no offers forthcoming from other London clubs such as Fulham, Crystal Palace, or West Ham.

Disasi, 27, faced a similar predicament, having attracted interest from Sunderland, Bournemouth, and West Ham, but ultimately none of the moves materialized as he held out for a return to his former club, Monaco. Despite his exclusion, Disasi indicated that he is fit and ready to play if called upon. Both players are still registered in Chelsea's Premier League squad, which raises questions about their future involvement with the team.

Manager Maresca also confirmed that several other players, including Romeo Lavia and Benoit Badiashile, are sidelined, alongside long-term injured players like Liam Delap and Levi Colwill. As Chelsea prepares for their upcoming match against Brentford, the situation with Sterling and Disasi remains a point of interest as the club navigates its squad dynamics.