Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has hinted at potentially resting key players during the Club World Cup due to concerns over fatigue, criticising the lack of consideration for player welfare.
The Blues are set to embark on a gruelling schedule with their first match in FIFA's revamped tournament taking place on June 16 in Atlanta, shortly after a packed end to the domestic season and the Conference League final against Real Betis in Wroclaw.
With five Chelsea stars called up by England manager Thomas Tuchel for international duty in early June, there's minimal rest before they dive into the global competition. Maresca, who hasn't consulted Tuchel about squad selection, expressed his frustration ahead of the final day clash against Nottingham Forest.
Should Chelsea reach the Club World Cup final on July 13, their 2024-25 season will not conclude until five weeks before the new Premier League campaign kicks off. “The problem is that we have a game Sunday and Wednesday, a European final,” said Maresca.
“No-one cares about that. No one cares about player welfare. If they’re going to be tired (in the US), they’re not going to play. How can you manage that? It’s simply like that.
“I don’t think there’s any attention paid to (if) players are healthy or these kind of things. It’s not normal the amount of games they play.”
Of the players called up for England, Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke have been involved in a hefty load of 44 and 39 matches this season respectively, whilst Levi Colwill boasts 36 games played, making a significant 34 top-flight starts. Reece James has had a contained number of outings as Chelsea carefully handle his return from a hamstring injury, and Trevoh Chalobah celebrates his first international call-up after making 18 appearances with the Blues. The defender also made 14 appearances for Crystal Palaces in the first half of the season.
Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo could play twice each for Argentina and Ecuador in World Cup qualifying in June, while Malo Gusto has been called up to France’s squad The schedule means Maresca may have to effectively forego a pre-season ahead of the next campaign in order to give players time off after the Club World Cup.
“For me it’s not normal and it’s not correct,” he said. “I can understand that people are thinking ‘they earn (a lot of) money,’ but it’s not about money, it’s about health, it’s about protecting players. My feeling is because of the amount of games they play, I don’t think they (FIFA) pay attention.”
Maresca admitted the pressure on his side to qualify for the Champions League is greater than it will be on Nottingham Forest when the teams meet at the City Ground on Sunday. A win for Chelsea will secure a top-five finish, although Forest’s own hopes are still alive if they can beat the Blues and other results go their way.
“At this stage of the season I think the pressure is for all the clubs that are involved,” said Maresca. “It’s also (pressure) for (Forest)." Asked whether the expectation weighs heavier on Chelsea, he said: “Probably yes.”
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Chelsea flag prior the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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