It's not the best feeling for a player
Both Axel Disasi and Raheem Sterling were deemed surplus to requirements by the Italian head coach and have been training away from the first team since the start of the season. When asked about the pair training separately from his team, Maresca said:
"I've been in Raheem's and Axel's situation as a player.
"For sure, I know it is not the best feeling for a player. For different reasons, the situation is the situation at the moment, but I know the club is giving them the situation to work in the right way."
This comes as the Professional Footballers' Association tried to ensure that the pair have a proper platform to train as they await the opening of the January transfer window, in which they are almost certain to depart.
Sterling, who had an unsuccessful loan at Arsenal last season, still has two years to run on the £325,000-per-week deal he signed in 2022, whilst Disasi is under contract until 2029 in what are examples of the club’s poor contract decisions.
Sterling does not know suffering
Asked if the situation is mentally challenging for the duo, the 45-year-old joked that Sterling does not know what suffering is.
"My father is 75 years old and for 50 years he's been a fisherman, working from two o'clock in the morning till 10 o'clock in the morning.
"This is a hard life - not the way a player works."
Sterling has not played a single game under Maresca and likely never will despite his vast experience in winning the Premier League which could help younger members of the squad.
New signing Alejandro Garnacho is in line to make his full debut against his former side Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday, whilst Sterling watches on from the sidelines once again.