The inevitable problems of Chelsea's bloated squad started even before the season kicked off, with Raheem Sterling announcing his discontent an hour before their opener against Man City.
Moments after the squad was announced and the forward had been left out, Sterling's representatives released a statement saying they wanted "clarity" about his role at the club and that they had expected him to be involved.
Chelsea have a 42-man squad according to their club website, with boss Enzo Maresca saying there are 30 players in it.
That includes 11 summer signings.
Only 20 can fit in a matchday squad, so Sterling was among the many names to miss out for the first game of the season against Manchester City, which they lost 2-0.
They became only the second team in Premier League history to hand out four debuts in one game.
"I want Raheem Sterling but I want all the 30 players we have," said Maresca, who replaced Mauricio Pochettino this summer.
"But there is no space for all of them. So for some of them, they have to leave."
Chelsea paid £50m to sign Raheem Sterling from Manchester City only two years ago
This is the first time since 2012 at Liverpool that Sterling has not played on the opening day of a Premier League season.
Maresca called it "a technical decision", adding: "In the next days we will see if it needs to be clarified."
Sterling's time at Chelsea has not gone to plan since his £50m move from Manchester City two years ago.
He has scored nine goals and 10 goals in those two campaigns. Not bad figures for a winger, but the last season he netted fewer than 10 in a season was 2012-13.
On top of that, he has lost his place in the England team, having failed to add to his 82 caps since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
His statement after Sunday's line-up was announced has ruffled feathers.
Former England defender Richards said: "Raheem and his team know what they are doing. They are trying to make noise.
"Putting that statement out before the game is not good enough. That will not help your team-mates or your case of getting back in the team.
"The manager has not picked him and he needs to deal with it."
Nevin, who played for the club from 1983 to 1988, wonders if this situation could knock Sterling's transfer fee down.
"What this situation with Raheem Sterling has done is make him possibly cheaper to buy. He won't be £100m or £50m. He will be a lot less than that as a club can say they are buying 'damaged goods'.
"Does it mean he will earn less money? Well, the top words of the statement were 'Raheem Sterling is contracted to Chelsea Football club for the next three years'.
"That is code for 'I am owed that money and I'm not giving it up'. I think this has been clever by the player and his people."
Chelsea have spent about £185m on 11 signings this summer, adding to a squad that was already considered large.
Academy products Gallagher and Chalobah and striker Lukaku, who cost them £97.5m three years ago, are all training away from the first team.
Chelsea accepted a £33m bid from Atletico Madrid for Gallagher, who captained the club in 24 Premier League games last season.
However, he has been unable to complete his move for now after a deal for striker Samu Omorodion to go in the opposite direction collapsed.
Chalobah is being linked to several Premier League clubs, while Maresca has told England left-back Chilwell that he is allowed to leave this summer too.
Midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka and defender Axel Disasi were among the other players left out against City.
"I think every case is different," said Maresca afterwards.
"Carney is a very good player. The problem is, because of some injuries in the past, I think the best for him is to play 30 or 35 games in a row, to show himself that he is fit and how good he is. With us, is he going to play 35 games? I'm not sure."
Co-controlling owners Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly have spent about £1.5bn on players since taking over just over two years ago, following Roman Abramovich's successful reign.
Redknapp, speaking on Sky, said: "Maresca's biggest problem is trying to keep everyone happy. It is virtually impossible.
"Maresca will see so many unhappy faces. The best teams in the world work on 24 or 25 players in the squad. How or why did they think they can reinvent football? They are giving the manager an impossible job."
If some of these issues sound familiar, former boss Graham Potter had similar challenges during his spell in charge.
The squad he inherited in 2022 was so big that the dressing room reportedly had to be reconfigured to fit more people in, and players had to change in the halls.
Chelsea had to leave Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of their squad for the Champions League knockout stages that campaign even after he had started all the group games becuase of the size of their squad.
And that will be another issue for Maresca, who will have to name a squad for the Premier League of 25 players (excluding under-21 players), with at least eight of those considered homegrown.
Sterling's Statement Sparks Debate
Sterling's omission from the squad and the subsequent statement from his camp sparked a debate amongst pundits and fans. Some, like Micah Richards, believe that Sterling's decision to publicly address the situation was not beneficial for the team and only served to create more noise around the club.
On the other hand, others, including former Chelsea player Pat Nevin, believe that Sterling's statement was a clever move that could potentially lower his transfer fee if Chelsea decides to sell him.
"What this situation with Raheem Sterling has done is make him possibly cheaper to buy," said Nevin. "He won't be £100m or £50m. He will be a lot less than that as a club can say they are buying 'damaged goods'."
The Bigger Picture: Chelsea's Squad Headache
Sterling's situation is just one facet of a bigger issue at Chelsea: a squad that is simply too big.
The club has spent over £1.5 billion on players in the past two years, resulting in a squad that is now unwieldy and unsustainable. This has put a significant strain on manager Enzo Maresca, who is tasked with keeping everyone happy and finding a way to fit 30 players into a 20-man matchday squad.
With so many players vying for playing time, it's inevitable that some will be unhappy. This is precisely what has happened with Sterling, and it is likely that more players will find themselves in similar situations as the season progresses.
Chelsea's squad headache is a problem of their own making, and it will be interesting to see how Maresca navigates it in the coming months. The club's success this season will depend heavily on his ability to trim the squad and find a way to get the most out of the players he has.
Sterling's Uncertain Future
Despite his recent struggles at Chelsea and the public statement from his camp, Sterling has reportedly attracted interest from Juventus. It is possible that he could leave the club this summer, especially if he is unable to secure a regular starting place.
However, with three years remaining on his contract, Sterling is in a strong position to demand a high transfer fee. This situation could ultimately lead to a standoff between Sterling and Chelsea, with both parties hoping for the best outcome for their respective futures.
Conclusion
The situation surrounding Raheem Sterling's future at Chelsea is a microcosm of the bigger issues facing the club. A bloated squad, a new manager trying to find his feet, and a player looking for clarity about his role - this is a recipe for uncertainty and potential conflict. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how this situation develops and how Chelsea manages to navigate these challenging waters.
