With January just around the corner, a major theme of Enzo Maresca’s press conference is squad management, once again.
The summer saw a huge amount of flux, once again, and while a really top squad was assembled by the end of the window, it wasn’t possible to shift everyone they wanted to shift. That meant there have been a few spare parts kicking around since August who must now be desperate to leave, having picked up just a handful of minutes.
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Enzo Maresca oversees training. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
Enzo Maresca celebrates after Chelsea beat Brentford. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Enzo Maresca oversees training. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
Chief among those are Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka, players more than good enough to be Premier League stars for some teams, regulars from a year ago, who have picked up just a couple of appearances in this campaign.
Maresca today confirmed they were top of the list to be sold or loaned when the window opens:
“There are players who unfortunately didn’t play a lot with us in all the competitions, like [Ben] Chilwell, like Carney [Chukwuemeka], and probably they are the first who want to leave because they work every day, they train every day, because they want to play games.”
Conference League question leads to interesting answer
Enzo Maresca on the touchline in the win over Shamrock Rovers. (Photo by: Crystal Pix/MB Media)
Enzo Maresca on the touchline in the win over Shamrock Rovers. (Photo by: Crystal Pix/MB Media)
The coach was also asked about how the end of the Conference League group stage would affect things. It’s provided a regular platform for many squad members to play regularly, and that avenue will now dry up, with increasingly strong teams likely to be played in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup and in the Conference League knockouts.
“We will see. With each player, it’s a different situation. So we’re going to see if some of them come knock on my door to say they want to leave, but it depends. We try to find a solution,” Maresca said.
He almost sounds like he’s challenging them to complain. Given the positive mood and how well the season is going, we don’t expect too many complaints.