Gary Neville has claimed Raheem Sterling's statement after being left out of Chelsea's Premier League opener may have also been intended as a defence of his team-mates.

After yet another hectic transfer window at Stamford Bridge, the Blues got their Premier League campaign underway by playing host to reigning champions Manchester City on Sunday.

Enzo Maresca made a number of bold decisions heading into his first competitive game in charge, though arguably none more so than leaving Sterling out of the matchday squad.

In the wake of his absence, Sterling's team shared a statement with Mail Sport, detailing their shock as a result of his being left out and insisting that they intend to 'gain clarity' on his future at the club.

Speaking on Monday Night Football, Neville suggested the release of the statement may have also been motivated by several of Sterling's team-mates finding themselves frozen out as part of the club's bloated squad.

Gary Neville suggested Raheem Sterling's statement could have been intended as a defence of his team-mates

'What I would say is, for Raheem, who I think is a really good lad, I love him to bits like Carragher said. I've worked with him for a long time and he's experienced now.' Neville said on Sky Sports.

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'I think if he's looking at everything that's happening behind the scenes there for him to do what he did yesterday, he must be seeing stuff that he doesn't like and feels like he needs to punch back. 

'He might be punching back on behalf of himself, but he may be punching back on behalf of [Conor] Gallagher. He may be punching back on behalf of [Trevoh] Chalobah, who's with the development squad. 

'He might be thinking, "I've got to alert people to what's going on here and the only way I can do that is through my own situation now". 

'Because it is unusual to put a statement now that I wouldn't expect Raheem Sterling to have done that.'

Gallagher regulalry served as captain in Recce James' absence last season, but the academy graduate found himself in limbo this summer as a move to Athletico Madrid stalled.

The deal looked to have collapsed when the Blues ended their pursuit of Samu Omorodion but now looks set to be completed after they turned their attention to fellow Colchoneros star Joao Felix.

Meanwhile Chalobah was excluded from Chelsea's pre-season tour squad and has been banished from the first-team training ground as he awaits a move away from the club.