Chelsea exiled 59-goal star to ‘separate changing room’ and he missed out on two major trophies, ‘there are no friends in football’…
Everyone knows that Chelsea can be quite a ruthless club at times, and that ruthlessness was clear to see in the build-up to this season.
For example, while he may be playing with the first team right now, some Chelsea supporters will not be quick to forget how the club banished Trevoh Chalobah from Enzo Maresca‘s main group last summer before sending him out on loan.
Despite recalling him during the January transfer window, Chelsea could still sell Chalobah at the end of the season.
Of course, the central defender is not the only player who has been treated harshly by Chelsea.
Nicolas Anelka’s exile
Former striker Nicolas Anelka was a great servant to Chelsea, playing 184 times for the club.
Across those appearances, Anelka managed to score 58 goals, while he also helped Chelsea to win the Premier League title in 2010.
When ex-Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas wanted Anelka out, though, that did not stop the club from exiling him. Anelka was sent to train with the Chelsea youth team, put in a separate changing room and was ultimately left questioning if he had any allies in football.
When the Frenchman spoke to The Sun in 2012 (via ESPN) about his banishment and exit, he said: “Ever since I was punished they put me with the youngsters.
“I’ve got all the kit and equipment that professionals have but they put me in a separate changing room — that’s football for you. One day, you can be there scoring goals and doing all you have to do for your club but the day you leave there is no pity.
“That’s why the day you do decide to leave you have to do what you have to do and have no sadness either, because there are no friends in football. That’s the truth. It’s sad to say but that’s the truth. It’s a collective sport but it’s also very individual.”
Compatriot Florent Malouda also found himself in a similar situation the following season, an experience that he has discussed as well. He was at least able to be part of Chelsea’s 2012 Champions League and FA Cup triumphs, something Anelka missed out on.
Chelsea were right to banish Raheem Sterling
These days, the likes of Chalobah, Ben Chilwell and Raheem Sterling have become the latest exiles at Chelsea, though the first of that trio has become a member of the first team again.
Chilwell also managed to get himself back into the main group at Cobham before his loan move to Crystal Palace, but Maresca never gave Sterling a second chance.
The winger is no Anelka, though. He has not done much for Chelsea since joining the club from Manchester City in 2022 and is on massive wages.
Ultimately, the Blues need to offload him and if his recent exile helps them to do so, then it was completely justified.
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