The Athletic FC Podcast Network.

Once again, we're asking what is going on at Stamford Bridge.

Rahim Sterling, not in the match day squad for Chelsea's Premier League season

opener at home to the Champions Manchester City.

So after being unhappy, you're being left out for the season opener.

What now for Rahim Sterling at Chelsea?

I'm Ayo Kim Willari.

Welcome to the Athletic FC Podcast. cast. Here with us today, we have our senior football writer Ollie Kay and Chelsea writer

and straight out of Cobham regular Liam Toomey as well Liam look you're at

Stamford Bridge over the weekend for the start of

Endo Maresca's era as Chelsea boss two-nill defeat sadly to Manchester City but

based on I guess coaching squad cohesion style of play

Manchester City are miles ahead of Chelsea was that result inevitable?

I don't know if it was inevitable but it was certainly expected and I think the

reaction outside the Chelsea dressing room in terms of supporters and people around the

club was quite telling because it's a mixture of

we expected that to happen but also it could have been a lot worse you know I think

particularly given what happened in the preseason meeting between these two teams.

I think there were Chelsea fans that turned up at Stanford Bridge fearing that it could be a massacre. You know could be really really bad it wasn't that I

think the reason why it wasn't that is just as much to do with city as it as it was

with Chelsea I think Chelsea were better. They look more cohesive. They had more good moments with the ball and without the ball. You could see more of Mariska's work, I think. at the same time, Citi as is often the case at this stage of the season, were nowhere near their top level.

They were still, they still did all the things you expect them to do in terms of being very, very joined up and very sure of themselves in terms of their pressing and their organization.

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