Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel has not taken kindly to Raheem Sterling’s team releasing a statement one hour before a match after the attacker was dropped for the opening league game.

Sterling was omitted from the matchday squad for the opening Premier League fixture against his former club and champions Manchester City.

As published by the Daily Mail, his team published a statement criticizing the club, claiming their client is doing everything possible to give his best and honor the remaining three years on his contract.

Mikel slams Sterling’s statement

Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel, analyzing the situation at the club over the weekend on his Obi One Podcast, slammed England forward’s timing of the statement as wrong.

"It wasn't the best way to start the campaign. It was a mess from Raheem Sterling's standpoint, releasing a statement like that an hour before the game, I don't think that's right. The way his team handled that was totally wrong,” he said.

“Chelsea had the whole summer to sort it before the season started. There were probably conversations that he did not get and wanted to bid his time and wait for the season to start, but the statement is totally wrong. A player is never bigger than the club.”