Facing the media after a pre-season defeat in Ohio, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was asked about the man who’d been facing his former side Manchester City that day: Raheem Sterling.
Having been left out of the Euro 2024 England squad, the attacker had been one of the first players back to prepare for the new campaign and it was clear from the coach’s reaction he’d left an impression.
"The position of Raheem, for me, is a winger; the position he was in the first four games with us. I don't see him in another position. In any game, it can happen when we need to use him in a different position. For sure, he is one of our important players, together with the rest,” he said.
"At this moment, sometimes he is playing from the start, sometimes he goes inside. The important thing is we give him minutes, and he is doing well."
Just over a fortnight later Maresca’s words couldn’t have been more different.
The “important player” had been left out of the squad completely for the opening Premier League clash with Manchester City and the uproar it caused was an unwanted pregame distraction.
"The manager has to take decisions that people and players doesn't like - it's normal. It's just a technical decision, no more than that. We will see in the next days," was Maresca’s curt response before kick-off.
"I want Sterling but I want all of them. I can't have them all so some will have to leave. In the next few days, we will see if we can clarify the situation," he added after the 0-2 loss.
There was no definitive public ‘clarification’ but the indications were that any private messages delivered to Raheem Sterling were not of reassurance.
First, his preferred squad number seven was handed to new signing Pedro Neto, then he was axed from the Blues European squad.
It’s been confirmed that the Londoner is training alone as he prepares to leave the club permanently.
What happened between Maresca’s effusive words in early August and the public cold shoulder now is the real question and perhaps the one Sterling himself is asking.
If the manager really didn’t fancy the attacker he surely would have made that clear from the outset giving him the longest period possible to find a new club.
But he Maresca blew hot, then cold.
Perhaps irked by this Sterling took the unusual step before the Manchester City game of responding to media inquiries about his exclusion from the squad officially and, in a statement issued pregame, the Englishman’s representatives laid out the situation from his perspective.
“Raheem Sterling is contracted to Chelsea Football Club for the next three years,” it read.
“He returned to England two weeks early to conduct individual training and has had a positive pre-season under the new coach, who he has developed a good working relationship with.
“He is committed, as ever, to delivering at the highest level for Chelsea FC and the fans, who he holds in high regard, and given his inclusion in official club pre-match material this week, our expectation was that Raheem would be involved in this weekend’s fixture in some capacity.
“As a camp, we have always had positive dialogue with, and assurance from, Chelsea FC in relation to Raheem’s future at the club, so we look forward to gaining clarity on the situation.
“Until then, we will continue to support Raheem’s desire to start the new season positively.”