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“The next step is…” – Maresca told to use this one player tonight if he has the “courage”

Enzo Maresca has done a lot of good things which Chelsea fans like, but he’s also made some frustrating decisions they don’t like.

His reluctance to use Josh Acheampong more regularly is one particular sticking point. On the London is Blue podcast today, they discussed the coach’s attitude to the defender who did so well when given chances earlier in the season but has since been frozen out almost entirely.

Acheampong has earned his right to more chances say podcasters

Josh Acheampong scores his first Chelsea goal.

Josh Acheampong scores his first Chelsea goal. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

“I don’t think Josh should be expected to start over a healthy Wesley Fofana or a healthy Trevoh Chalobah. But if you don’t think he’s better at Tosin at this point I don’t know what you’re watching,” presenter Nick Verlaney said.

“And certainly Benoit Badiashile hasn’t done enough yet since coming back from injury to cement his place as the third centre back, so I think it’s a real fight for those, the third and fourth centre back spot. And so I credit Maresca for getting most of it right.

“The next step is: do you have the courage to play Josh.”

We really hope he does, and tonight would be the perfect chance for it. Maresca said after the Leeds game last week that he regretted not using the youngster in that game, and tonight he can make up for that snub. If fans see Tosin again, there may be a riot.

You can see their discussion in the clip embedded here:

❓ If Fofana is rested tonight, who should start vs Atalanta – Josh or Tosin? pic.twitter.com/vJ9ef17RxB

— London Is Blue Podcast ⭐️⭐️ (@LondonBluePod) December 9, 2025

In other news…

Chelsea have 3 players on the list of 10 with the biggest price rises in the Premier League this season according to TransferMarkt’s data.

Gianfranco Zola has been speaking about Enzo Maresca, and he’s more positive about the coach than some fans might be at the moment.

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