Rio Ferdinand has criticised Chelsea for their unexpected dropping of Raheem Sterling in their 2-0 defeat to Manchester City, highlighting the negative impact it could have on the team's morale.
Sterling's camp expressed confusion and disappointment over the decision, especially given his positive pre-season and commitment to the club.
However, Ferdinand warned that mistreating a respected figure like Sterling could create unrest in the dressing room. Sterling's future at Chelsea now seems uncertain, with clubs like Juventus reportedly showing interest in his services.
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents, the ex-Man Utd centre-back said: 'I see all the young players, especially in that squad, talk about Raheem, it's like Uncle Raheem. Cole Palmer, the likes of Reece James, it's Uncle Raheem.
'And he's looked after a lot of these boys, they come to him, so when you kick that guy in the changing room, all of them are going to limp at some point and they aren't going to take it well and you create a problem in your own dressing room.
'There's nobody delivering that message with any clarity, and from what I'm hearing he (Sterling) has got no understanding of where his situation lies.'
The statement released by Sterling’s PA on Sunday afternoon read: ‘Raheem Sterling is contracted to Chelsea Football Club for the next three years.
‘He returned to England two weeks early to conduct individual training and has had a positive pre-season under the new coach, who he has developed a good working relationship with.
‘He is committed, as ever, to delivering at the highest level for Chelsea FC and the fans, who he holds in high regard, and given his inclusion in official club pre-match material this week, our expectation was that Raheem would be involved in this weekend’s fixture in some capacity.
‘As a camp, we have always had positive dialogue with, and assurance from, Chelsea FC in relation to Raheem’s future at the club, so we look forward to gaining clarity on the situation. Until then, we will continue to support Raheem’s desire to start the new season positively.’
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