Enzo Maresca has revealed why he made the changes he did in Chelsea’s defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League.
The Blues slumped to a 2-1 defeat in Italy, their second in the competition this season, and Maresca’s men are now on a four game winless run.
Joao Pedro gave Chelsea the lead from close range, before the Blues fell apart in the second half and conceded twice, with Charles De Ketelaere scoring the winner.
Enzo Maresca explains his substitutions
Maresca made five changes to the side which drew with Bournemouth, but as has been the case with most games this season, both Trevoh Chalobah and Enzo Fernandez started.
The pair have played a lot of football this season, and when they are fit they tend to be selected, although Fernandez in-particular struggled.
Enzo Fernandez in action against Atalanta.
Fernandez had a tough evening and substituted in the second half. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Chalobah picked up a first half booking and was withdrawn at half time, with Wesley Fofana coming on in his place, whilst Fernandez was put out of his misery after 66 minutes.
The Argentine certainly had a night to forget, and after the game Maresca explained the reasoning behind taking the pair off.
“Both changes were because Trev and Enzo, they are playing every minute of every game,” he told his post-match press conference.
“They are both not 100%. Trev was on a yellow card. This is the reason why we changed them.”
Wesley Fofana suffers eye injury
Fofana replaced Chalobah, and should have defended better for the equaliser, but the Frenchman was unable to see the game out.
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Enzo Maresca looks dejected on the touchline.
Joao Pedro gives Chelsea the lead.
Raheem Sterling with a Chelsea logo.
The 24-year-old picked up an eye injury from a boot to the face in a really unlucky incident, and Maresca revealed after the game the situation was “quite bad.”
It’s hoped Fofana will be available for the game against Everton on Saturday, with Chelsea in desperate need of a win with the pressure seriously mounting from this poor run of form.