"If I had to use one word to sum up the practice of separating players from the first team by forcing them to train at different times, often with just one or two others, simply because their club no longer wants them, it would be 'spiteful.' If spiteful seems strong, I think it's worth asking yourself: Why does a player need to train alone if the club wants to get rid of them? Especially when there's no disciplinary issue?"
"Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi are the latest to find themselves in that situation with their club Chelsea. After Sterling posted a picture on social media that showed him at training at 8:21 p.m. last week, ESPN reported that the Professional Footballers' Association had intervened to discuss Sterling's and Disasi's treatment and that efforts were being made to provide a more suitable training program for the pair."
Nedum Onuoha played 14 Premier League seasons with Manchester City, Sunderland and Queens Park Rangers before finishing his career at MLS side Real Salt Lake. He joined ESPN in 2020 and serves as lead studio pundit in England, writing periodic columns. He calls the practice of forcing players to train separately 'spiteful' and argues isolated training without disciplinary reasons undermines dignity. He cites Manchester United players who faced such treatment and notes Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi experienced it at Chelsea. The Professional Footballers' Association intervened for Sterling and Disasi, while coach Enzo Maresca expressed no sympathy.
Read at ESPN.com
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