Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca insisted on Wednesday that he was not presiding over a "mess" of a squad, after the London club was involved in yet more transfer activity.

Joao Felix signed a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge, with his return from Atletico Madrid to the club where he spent an underwhelming spell on loan in the 2022-23 season, helping facilitate Conor Gallagher's move in the opposite direction.

Maresca now has one of the largest squads in the Premier League at his disposal, although he has made it clear Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell are not part of his plans.

But, speaking ahead of Chelsea's Conference League play-off against Servette, Maresca said criticism of the club's transfer policy had been unfair.

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

"It's not the mess it looks like from the outside. The other players can even have 20 years contract, it is not my point. I don't care."

As for the position of Sterling and Chilwell, he added: "In this moment, they are training separately. As I said, the situation with both of them is quite clear.

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

But, he was understandably more upbeat about Joao Felix, with Maresca — whose side started the new Premier League season with a 2-0 defeat to champion Manchester City last weekend — saying: "He is a good player, a talent. The club already knows him from two years ago.

"He can play different positions with us, inside, as a nine and outside."

AFP