Enzo Maresca: Chelsea’s squad is not a mess like it looks from outside

Enzo Maresca insists Chelsea’s squad is “not a mess” in the wake of another flurry of transfer deals.

Joao Felix completed his return to the club on Wednesday, signing a seven-year contract – 15 months after he last played for the Blues on loan – with the Portugal forward’s arrival from Atletico Madrid helping facilitate Conor Gallagher’s move in the opposite direction.

Maresca has a huge squad at his disposal and has confirmed Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell are just two players who are not in his plans.

However, speaking ahead of Chelsea’s Conference League play-off against Servette, Maresca said he feels the situation has been blown out of proportion.

“I am not working with 42 players, I am working with 21 players (in first-team training),” the Italian said.

“It’s not a mess like it looks from outside. The other players can even have 20 years contract, it is not my point. I don’t care.”

Commenting on the situation with Sterling and Chilwell, Maresca added: “In this moment, they are training apart (from the squad). As I said, the situation with both of them is quite clear, there is not any update on the situation.

“We have a big squad, for me it’s impossible to give everyone minutes so if they’re looking for minutes, probably it is better to leave. And in case they don’t leave, they have a contract here, they are Chelsea players.”

Chelsea is where he belongs.