Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has once again shown his blunt, no-nonsense side when pressed about the ongoing situation with Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi.

Both players have recently found themselves excluded from the first-team setup, sparking questions about their treatment and even drawing the attention of the PFA.

But when asked if life was proving difficult for the pair, Maresca responded in a way that left many fans both surprised and puzzled.

“My father was a fisherman,” Maresca said.

“Going to work from 2am to 10am every day for 50 years. This is hard in life, not being a football player.”

The comparison struck a chord, with Maresca essentially downplaying the struggles of professional footballers by contrasting them with the relentless grind of his father’s working life.

The message is clear: Maresca doesn’t want excuses. In his eyes, being sidelined or left out of the squad does not compare to the real hardship endured by working-class people, like his father. It’s his way of sending a strong reminder that footballers still live privileged lives, even during difficult career moments.