Maresca has welcomed back a key playerplaceholder image
Maresca has welcomed back a key player | AFP via Getty Images
Chelsea are back in action on Wednesday when they face Wolves in the Carabao Cup fourth round.
Chelsea make the trip on the back of a disappointing late home defeat to Sunderland, and they are well aware that they have a big clash with Tottenham on the schedule this weekend. It has been a busy season already for Chelsea, who are in the midst of a relentless schedule due to their involvement in the Champions League and cup competitions.
The Blues are playing mid-week football every week until the international break, and as part of that, Maresca must manage the minutes his usual starters are playing, something he will do against Premier League bottom club Wolves. “Yes, we need to rotate,” he said in his press conference.
“We need to protect the players because if we go with the same XI, we are going to struggle during the season. We probably will make some changes against Wolves, I don’t know how many, but we will make changes. I don’t know if it’s going to be nine or 10 like it was from Forest to Ajax, but for sure we need to make some to rotate and help protect the players.
“There are players that they need to be protected for many reasons, so tomorrow we'll see. Enzo (Fernandez), Moi (Caicedo), Joao (Pedro) - they are all players, for different reasons, we need to protect them.”
Delap boost
In good news, Chelsea will welcome back striker Liam Delap, who will be available to play in some capacity despite the expectation he would be out until some time in November with his hamstring issue.
“Yes, Liam is available for the game,” Maresca added. “He completed the whole session with us yesterday with no problems and he is available for tomorrow. We have to be careful with Liam and [it’s unlikely he will play] 90 minutes, no. He’s been out for two months, so he needs to be gradually brought back up to 100 per cent.”
A careful approach would be wise from Chelsea given the dangers of returning from hamstring injuries, and he is an explosive player who likes to open up and use his pace. Wolves don’t have any real injury issues heading into this one, other than long-term absentee Leon Chiwome, but they are unlikely to rotate given they are not playing European football, while they are also in need of a major confidence boost having failed to win in the league all season up to this point.
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