Chelsea will be back in action this weekend as they travel to the Gtech Community Stadium to play Brentford, but Enzo Maresca might rest some key players with next week in mind.
While Chelsea will be looking to secure a top-four position in the Premier League at the end of the season, Maresca might already have one eye on next Wednesday, which could influence his team selection.
Chelsea have made an unbeaten start to the Premier League and sit second, but Maresca might rest some key players to ensure that his squad his fully fit to travel to the Allianz Arena next week.
Bayern Munich will be considered the stronger threat of the two upcoming opponents. While Maresca mustn’t overlook Brentford, balancing out the squad will be key this season.
Enzo Maresca smiles after West Ham vs Chelsea
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Moises Caicedo
Moises Caicedo has been at the heart of Chelsea’s midfield since joining the club, but he might miss out against Brentford this weekend.
Caicedo might have been sent off during Ecuador’s last game in the international break against Argentina. Still, Maresca confirmed he didn’t return to England until Thursday night due to the distance he had to travel.
The lack of downtime and the fact that he will have only had one training session ahead of Brentford might lead Maresca to assess his options and opt to rest Caicedo, at least by putting him on the bench.
Given Bayern Munich’s attacking qualities, Caicedo is expected to have a busy night in Germany next week, and allowing his body to recover for that might be crucial.
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Joao Pedro
Joao Pedro pointing to a teammate against Fulham
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Joao Pedro has been a key figure in Chelsea’s team so far this season, and with Liam Delap injured, most people would presume that the former Brighton & Hove Albion forward is guaranteed to lead the line.
However, he was away with Brazil on international duty and only returned to England on Thursday, which could impact his availability in the Premier League this weekend.
Chelsea recalled Marc Guiu from his loan spell for a reason, and Saturday’s game against Brentford could provide him with an instant opportunity to prove himself.
Estevao Willian
Much like Pedro, Estevao Willian was representing Brazil during the international break. Maresca openly admitted in his press conference that those who did that are in doubt for the Brentford game.
The sheer travel alone is guaranteed to damage their bodies, and given Brentford’s qualities, Maresca will want his starting line-up to be sharp and ready to cause problems.
Chelsea have an abundance of wingers right now, so the reliance on Estevao isn’t quite at the same level as it might be for Pedro. Even though Estevao has proven himself influential, he could be rested here to make a bigger impact in Munich.
Reece James
From the moment Maresca took charge of the club, Reece James has had his minutes managed, and so far, that decision has been worthwhile as it has allowed the right-back to be more available for the Blues.
However, all that was thrown out of the window during the international break, as James started both games for England and played over an hour in each fixture.
Reece James Chelsea stats 2025-26 Games Played Goals Assists Minutes Played
Premier League 3 – – 109′
The consecutive games will undoubtedly have tested his body physically, and with Malo Gusto more than capable of slotting in at right-back, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see James start on the bench.
Maresca has admitted James is fit enough to play multiple games in a week, but with the start of the Champions League just around the corner, he might not want to test that theory just yet.
Cole Palmer
Cole Palmer arriving to the ground with his headphones in
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The final player whom Maresca might consider resting is Cole Palmer, which would be a significant risk given his general influence on the team when he plays.
Palmer is one of Chelsea’s most creative attacking threats. After scoring 18 goals last season, he’s the type of player Maresca would typically want on the pitch.
However, Palmer has only played 90 minutes of football this season due to injury, and resting him once again ahead of the Bayern Munich clash might be the smartest decision.
Maresca confirmed that Palmer’s minutes are being managed, and he will be assessed ahead of Brentford, which could see him miss out once again.