Enzo Maresca
Chelsea is gearing up for their upcoming clash against Qarabag at the Tofik Bahramov Stadium, with the match scheduled for Wednesday evening. The Blues will not return to the UK until Friday morning, leaving them with limited time to prepare for their Premier League encounter against Wolves on Saturday night at Stamford Bridge. Manager Enzo Maresca is expected to make significant changes to the lineup to keep the squad fresh for the demanding schedule ahead.
Reece James, Chelsea’s captain, is set to increase his workload after recovering from a recurring hamstring injury that required surgery in December 2023. James marked his return in a crucial 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest and has since been a regular under Maresca, despite a setback in November 2024.
Maresca said: “He’s fit 100 per cent. The way he behaves every game is top. Even when he’s not playing, inside the changing room, the way with his teammates. Now, yes, I think he’s going to play three games in a week. Also depends, I said many times, also depends on the way we use Reece. We didn’t use him up and down. It’s a big job for him, for Malo [Gusto], for any full-back to continue to do up and down. We use the full-back in a different way. Probably we also protect and save him in the way we try to play. I think he’s ready to play three games in a week.”
Maresca also addressed the situation with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, emphasizing that despite his strong performances, he will be treated like any other player in the squad.
Maresca said: “He could be an option, yeah. It could be an option also because we need also both ‘keepers ready. And at the end, we need to deal or treat with Robert also in the same way. We try to deal with different things. It’s also true that I think Robert arrived again and he was playing from the beginning since the day he arrived here. I feel it’s a bit different. He arrived here and joined our club knowing that Robert was the number one choice. We used him in the Premier League. And he is doing well this season. It’s not easy for players in general, but it’s even worse for goalkeepers when you don’t play and you have to play some game because it’s very difficult for a keeper.”
In addition, Cole Palmer, who has been sidelined with a groin injury, is hopeful of returning in time for Chelsea’s match against Barcelona later this month.
Maresca said: “We hope so, but with Cole we try to plan, we try to schedule, you know, at the beginning. Then we need to review that. So in this moment we go day by day with Cole. He’s not taking any session with the team.”
Maresca confirmed the return of Liam, highlighting his importance to the team’s strategy both in scoring goals and in pressing off the ball. Meanwhile, Neto is dealing with a minor issue and will not be involved in the upcoming game against Qarabag.
Maresca said: “Yeah, Liam is back. He’s an important player for us. He’s an option for tomorrow. I said already many times that I don’t have any doubt that at the end of the season, we’re going to be very happy with Liam in terms of goals, in terms of also the way he works off the ball, how intense he is when we need to press.”
Lastly, Maresca provided an update on Essugo, indicating that he is still out and may not return until the new year.
Chelsea’s tactical flexibility and squad depth will be crucial as they navigate a busy fixture list, with Maresca’s strategic adjustments playing a key role in maintaining the team’s competitive edge.ChampionsLeaguePotential
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