Gary Neville delivers scathing verdict on Raheem Sterling statement: "Never agree"

Gary Neville admits he could "never agree" with Raheem Sterling 's decision to publish a statement, via his team, just before his Chelsea team-mates took to the pitch.

The winger was left out of the Blues squad for their Premier League opener, which they went on to lose against champions Manchester City. Sterling's team put out a statement where they said they wanted "clarity" over the player's future under Enzo Maresca.

They also stated there was an "expectation" that the Premier League winner would feature in some capacity on Sunday. The statement itself has copped huge criticism with a number of Chelsea players facing uncertain futures - last season's captain Conor Gallagher among them.

Neville was unimpressed by Sterling's decision to go public but suggested that perhaps the ex-England star was sounding the alarm having grown frustrated by the club and how they conduct themselves.

He told Sky Sports : "I can never agree with a player putting a statement out and hour and a half before kick-off because of the fact he's got colleagues and team-mates. Forget the club, forget the manager - it happened once with Wayne Rooney at Man Utd - you're our team-mate so don't distract from what we're doing.

"So I think Raheem probably needs to go and have a chat and say that was poor timing. For Raheem, who I love to bits, he's experienced and if he's looking at things behind the scenes, he must be seeing things he doesn't like and feels like he needs to punch back.

"He might be punching back on behalf of himself, but he may be punching back on behalf of Gallagher, Chalobah. He might be thinking I've got to alert people to what's going on here, because it is unusual to put a statement out."

The winger has been involved in pre-season and his omission surprised those around him
(Image: Darren Walsh)

Jamie Carragher though was quick to snap back at his final point, adamant that Sterling's only motive was himself and his future after two disappointing years at Stamford Bridge. He's tailed off from the player we saw at City and has been urged to say backtrack.

The ex-Liverpool player said: "He's not doing that for the team or the dressing room - he's doing that for himself. He's not John Terry or Frank Lampard looking after the club. He's made a mistake, they should just apologise to the manager and get cracking in training."

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