Gary Neville criticizes Chelsea's treatment of academy players

Chelsea FC has made headlines with the signing of 10 new players since the conclusion of last season, pushing their total expenditure on signings to over £1 billion since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took control in May 2022. However, the club's financial outlay is not the primary concern for former player Gary Neville. Instead, he highlights the treatment of players like Conor Gallagher, who was excluded from first-team training by new manager Enzo Maresca, raising questions about the club's approach to player management. Gallagher, who captained Chelsea last season and has been with the club since childhood, was deemed unsuitable for Maresca's tactical plans. This decision has sparked criticism, particularly as Raheem Sterling also expressed surprise at being left out of the squad for the opening match of the season. Sterling's public statement, titled "The Good, The Bad And The Ugly," reflects the discontent among players regarding their treatment under the new regime. Despite significant investment, Chelsea has yet to secure a top-class centre forward, with many questioning the effectiveness of their recruitment strategy. With a squad of 42 players, Maresca has indicated he will only work with 21, leading to concerns about the future of players like Trevoh Chalobah, who has also been sidelined. As Chelsea prepares to face Wolves in search of their first Premier League points, the club's management faces scrutiny over its handling of player relationships and team cohesion.