🔗 Share this article

Enzo Maresca has suggested that his team is experiencing the " consequences of their previous global tournament campaign, with a significant group of squad members unavailable for the upcoming match against the Reds.

Present Fitness Status

Important attacker Cole Palmer is sidelined with a persistent muscle problem, joining the list of lengthy absentees that includes Fofana, Delap, Levi Colwill, Santos, and Adarabioyo. Moreover, Trevoh Chalobah is suspended following his dismissal in the last defeat to Brighton.

"It's reality," the coach stated. "If Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea have so many fitness issues, probably it's the consequences from the Club World Cup. In this situation we have four or five backline players out, but we're going to try to adapt and find the right solution."

Study Points to Workload Concerns

A newly released study from the worldwide players' union Fifpro showed that Chelsea squad were allowed three weeks off after winning the Club World Cup in the summer, while Paris Saint-Germain, the defeated runners-up, rested their team members for over three weeks. The analysis connected this intense workload to the injury problems faced by both clubs.

Maresca expressed alignment with the study's conclusions and stressed his confidence in the young players who will step in. Josh Acheampong is expected to earn his fourth top-flight start in the backline.

Belief in Youth

"This is challenging," Maresca conceded, "however at the same time we believe in the players that are here. For sure, when you can rotate one individual after several games, it's better. The longer you perform alongside with teammates, the relationship becomes better. Sometimes you don't even need to talk to do something on the pitch – they grasp instantly. When you persist to rotate it's increasingly difficult."

"Yet I truly have faith in the emerging players. Not just the youth that we buy but also the young players from the youth system. We gave opportunities last season to Josh so that demonstrates that I rely on young players."

Disciplinary Record Addressed

Regarding disciplinary concerns, Maresca claimed he is not concerned by Chelsea's history of dismissals. The team has received multiple red cards in their previous as many games, featuring João Pedro's red card in the Champions League victory over Benfica.

Since his arrival in June 2024, the club has the worst conduct stats among Premier League teams, with multiple dismissals in 73 games – one every 10.4 matches. Additionally, they top the division for cautions under his tenure, with 114 cautions.

"There is any conduct problem," he said. "It's necessary to analyse case by case. When it's a dismissal for malicious intent or for poor behavior, it's different from the United red card or the Seagulls red card. In that cases, it's just a decision that you have to take in an instant, three seconds. Should I commit foul or not? It's difficult."