During his summer vacation in Marbella, Enzo Maresca spent his downtime reviewing Chelsea’s 2023-24 fixtures, taking meticulous notes and analyzing every detail. It’s likely that his attention was particularly piqued when he reached the 32nd minute of the Christmas Eve match against Wolverhampton.

The score was 0-0 when Raheem Sterling seized possession from Joao Gomes, sprinting forward with Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson poised for potential tap-ins on his right flank. Instead of passing to his teammates, Sterling opted to take on the goalkeeper himself, only to be thwarted by Jose Sa’s save. Chelsea ultimately lost the match 2-1.

Since then, Chelsea fans have been circulating that clip on social media, perhaps with a hint of schadenfreude, after learning that Maresca had dropped Sterling from the first-team training sessions. It’s a harsh reality for a Premier League superstar like Sterling.

The £54million signing of Pedro Neto and £44.5m arrival of Joao Felix have pushed Sterling down the pecking order. Both new signings are expected to feature in Chelsea’s upcoming trip to Molineux, likely from the bench, as Maresca believes they still need time to adapt to his intricate tactical plan.

Chelsea’s recruitment strategy, led by co-director of recruitment and talent Joe Shields and director of global recruitment Sam Jewell, prioritizes versatile players who can excel in multiple positions. This “Swiss Army Knife” approach has driven the club’s recent signings, including Neto and Felix.

Raheem Sterling does not fit Chelsea’s ‘Swiss Army Knife’ system – he is not versatile

Enzo Maresca prizes versatility for a Chelsea side who could play up to 80 games this season

Maresca’s emphasis on versatility is driven by the need for flexibility in Chelsea’s squad, particularly with the prospect of playing up to 80 matches this season. The club aims to take the Conference League and Club World Cup seriously, and having two players per position can provide valuable options for Maresca.

Neto, for instance, can be deployed on the left or right wings, in midfield, or as a false nine. Felix, meanwhile, can play on the wings, as an attacking midfielder, or as a false nine, where he can drop deep to add an extra layer to Maresca’s passing game.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is another new signing who embodies this versatility, capable of filling the No 8 and No 10 roles and providing balance to the midfield with his left foot.

Sterling, on the other hand, can only watch from the sidelines until a transfer is finalized. Despite featuring in all six of Chelsea’s pre-season friendlies, he was given no indication that he would be exiled from the first team. In fact, he expressed his excitement for the upcoming season in an interview.

New signing Pedro Neto can be used on both wings, in the midfield, or a false nine

Joao Felix can play on the wing, as a false nine, or in attacking midfield for the Blues

Sterling can still do a job on the left wing but that is not enough for Chelsea, who want players to be flexible 

The problem for Sterling is that he is often pigeonholed as a left winger, which limits his flexibility in Maresca’s eyes. While he can still perform on the left wing, it’s not enough to justify his continued inclusion in the first team.

Chelsea’s hierarchy recognizes that transforming the team into a top-notch outfit will take time. They are committed to providing Maresca with the necessary resources and patience to implement his vision, starting with ensuring Neto and Felix are up to speed with his expectations as they travel to Wolves.