JHANA FUN

Chelsea are putting more pressure on Raheem Sterling. In an interview, the manager openly emphasized Sterling's humiliating status in the team. Chelsea manager Enso Maresca said, "I like to be honest with the players," adding, "The players on the release list will not be able to play even if they remain on the team." Sterling issued a statement just before the opening match against Manchester City in the first round of the English Premier League during the 2024-2025 season. When he was removed from the list, Sterling protested, "I ask the club to explain the current situation." Afterwards, Chelsea completely excluded Sterling from the club's plan. The number 7 went to Pedro Netu (24). According to the BBC, Sterling is not allowed to participate in Chelsea training. Maresca sealed the deal. "Raheem (Sterling) is a fantastic player who is very well trained," he said. "He may have different thoughts. He is the type of winger that I don't like. Sterling is a player who is represented by his career and numbers." "I honestly don't know what will happen if there are any players who are excluded from the club's plan," he said. "Players who will get a chance to play may benefit the club. However, some of the players who are confirmed to be released are training separately. They cannot participate in matches. I have already told the players clearly and honestly." Chelsea recruited 10 players in the summer transfer market. Cole Palmer (22) signed an extraordinary extension contract until 2033. In the U.K., critics say that Chelsea will not have enough locker rooms. In England, Maresca said, "Chelsea is not a crazy club. It has been going in one direction since joining the club. The players are the resources that Chelsea wanted. The goal of the club is clear." Only two days are left before the summer transfer window closes. According to Sky Sports of the U.K., Sterling has been linked with Manchester United of the Premier League.

At the inaugural press conference, Hong said, "I thought I picked the best member during the Brazil World Cup. However, the number of players I knew was narrow, and after all, I had nothing to say even if people call it soccer." However, Hong defended himself by saying, "It's different now. I've been in the K-League for a long time, and I think I know the K-League better than anyone else." Then came the first national soccer team Hong Myung-bo. Four players, including "Young Gun" Yang Min-hyuk Gangwon FC, who dominated the K-League 1 at age 18, were invited by Hong Myung-bo, the new coach of the Korean national soccer team, to wear the national flag for the first time. Hong announced the list of 26 players who will play in two consecutive A-match games in September at the Korea Football Center in central Seoul on Wednesday morning. While there has been no significant change, some of the new faces of the K-League stand out. The player who stands out the most is Yang Min-hyuk. Yang, who debuted on the stage, is a flanker who has displayed outstanding performance by tying for seventh in attack points 13 points in the league. Notably, he surprised everyone by confirming his joining of Tottenham and booking a place in the English Premier League at the youngest age in history as a Korean player. Yang will meet his senior Son Heung-min in the national team before joining Tottenham officially in January next year. Having played in three matches for the U-17 national team, Hwang earned the honor of being selected for the A team for the first time at age 27. Hwang is playing as a right fullback this season, but he is a multiplayer who can also handle central midfielder and side attack. Other players, defenders Lee Han-bum Mit Willan and Choi Woo-jin Incheon have been selected for the first time in their careers. Coach Hong said, "Choi Woo-jin is a player I've seen while playing in K-League games. I watched two games in Incheon, and he played soccer very accurately from the left side of the four-back. He is still 20 years old, so he lacks in everything, including physicality, but he was a very interesting player. Both sides of positions are a concern for Korean soccer. I think you know how young players grow. I won't say Hwang Mun-ki. The team called Gangwon is on top, and his performance is very good. The player who plays the most role in it is Hwang Mun-ki. "When I observed Gangwon's three games, Hwang Mun-ki was a player who showed consistent overall condition and performance," he said. The national team will convene at Goyang Stadium on May 2 to prepare for the match against Palestine. They will play the first and second rounds of the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup. The national team will play the first round against the Palestinians at Seoul World Cup Stadium at 8 p.m. on May 5 and the second round against Oman at Sultan Qaboos Stadium in Muscat, Oman on May 10 at 11 p.m. Korean time. Existing players from overseas leagues including Son Heung-min Tottenham, Hwang Hee-chan Wolverhampton, Lee Kang-in PSG, and Kim Min-jae Munich all easily joined the national team. The captain of the national team continues to be Son Heung-min. Coach Hong said, "The most important issue in this selection is that the team has made some changes to the stable operation that the national team has been doing," adding, "We will run the team with stable and future-oriented players."