Enzo Maresca and Chelsea look ready for the new Premier League campaign, impressing in their very short pre-season.
Chelsea beat AC Milan convincingly last Sunday, winning 4-1 at Stamford Bridge. A couple of days before that, they managed to defeat Bayer Leverkusen 2-0.
Rangers legend Ally McCoist has now backed Chelsea to finish above Manchester City this season.
However, Maresca will have one big concern going into his side’s opener against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Chelsea's Italian head coach Enzo Maresca applauds the fans
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Enzo Maresca makes centre-back demand
Maresca will be without his star central defender Levi Colwill after the 22-year-old was forced to undergo surgery because of an ACL injury.
Maresca had hoped to have Colwill back soon, but the Chelsea head coach is now expected to be without the England international for the majority of the 2025/26 campaign.
According to Simon Phillips, Maresca is demanding that the Blues sign a new central defender as a result. The journalist made the claim on his Substack Si Phillips Talks Chelsea.
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Maresca still has Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo and Benoit Badiashile to call upon, while Jorrel Hato and Josh Acheampong are full-backs who can play centrally.
The former Leicester City boss, though, will be wary of Fofana and Badiashile’s poor injury records. Fofana should be available for the Palace game, but what happens after that is anyone’s guess.
Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace lifts the FA Community Shield
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Marc Guehi could be the easiest deal to do
Chelsea have been linked with Marc Guehi for a while now — even before Colwill’s injury — and agreeing a deal with Crystal Palace to sign him should not be too difficult.
With his contract running down, it has been reported that Palace are open to selling Guehi for just £40m this summer.
Guehi has also been linked with Liverpool, but the chance to move back to Stamford Bridge and prove himself there may prove enticing.
If Chelsea are ready to grant Maresca’s request, the England star could be the centre-half who ends up joining the Club World Cup winners.