Maresca has had rotten luck so far this seasonplaceholder image
Maresca has had rotten luck so far this season | Getty Images
Chelsea have been dealt another injury setback as the issues continue to pile up.
Chelsea are said to have been hit with a fresh injury blow as they continue to deal with issues aplenty on the injury front. The Blues have had a solid start to the season, but they have not been helped by injury issues aplenty, and none has been more frustrating as the Cole Palmer situation.
Palmer’s absence has been extended little by little as Chelsea look to get him back in the best possible condition, and despite hopes that the forward would return after this international break, it emerged last week that Palmer is now likely to be out until after the next break.
The Blues have already lost Levi Colwill for much of the season, and there are plenty of other issues restricting Enzo Maresca at this still early stage of the season. One of the absentees is Dario Essugo, who was signed to be Moises Caicedo’s understudy this season and to develop as a strong back-up in the meantime.
Essugo picked up a hamstring injury that was expected to cost him around four months of action, but according to BBC Sport, Essugo will now be out until the new year. The midfielder had already been removed from Chelsea’s Champions League squad for the meantime, which suggested the Blues might have known Essugo could be out until January.
Maresca will be disappointed with the move. He previously said of Essugo and other young players to have impressed: “They are three talents, I trained Delap in the Under 21s of City he already has experience of the Premier League, he was relegated with Ipswich but he scored 12 goals and he is a strong guy.
“The other two will need time: they are both born in 2005, we will have to understand when they will be ready but in perspective they are very strong players.”
Maresca on Chelsea’s injuries
Chelsea boss Maresca has spoken recently about his side’s injury issues early in the season, putting the issues down to the FIFA Club World Cup: “It’s reality,” he said.. “If PSG and Chelsea have so many injuries, probably it’s some consequences from the Club World Cup. In this moment we have four or five defenders out, but we’re going to try to adapt and find the right solution.
“It is difficult, but at the same time we trust the ones that are here. For sure, when you can change one player after four or five games, it’s better. The more you play together with teammates, the relationship becomes better. Sometimes you don’t even need to speak to do something on the pitch – they understand immediately. When you continue to change it’s more difficult.
“But I really trust the young players. Not just the young players that we buy but also the young players from the academy. We gave games last year to Josh so that shows that I trust young players.”
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