Chelsea will be playing their first Premier League game of the new season, and fans are eager to know who will be available to play. Manager Enzo Maresca gave the news on the fitness of the team, and there was good news and bad. With such a busy season ahead, having Chelsea’s star players fit could be the difference.
Positive Indications in Training
A number of Chelsea players who weren’t involved in normal training have come back. Midfielder Enzo Fernandez, missed the second half of last season after surgery. He was training at Cobham and will be fully fit. His comeback will be a huge confidence boost to the midfield. With his range of passing and calmness being the game-changer to dominate games.
Another huge plus for Maresca is the comeback of Christopher Nkunku. The French forward has been out for months due to a knee problem but is now fully integrated in training. His creativity and capacity to play anywhere on the front line provide Maresca another weapon up front. Chelsea supporters have been begging to see Nkunku play with new signings. This may now be possible in a few weeks.
Minor Concerns for Chelsea Ahead of Kick-Off
But everything is not rosy. Reece James continues to work towards being fully fit. The club captain has been doing well, but Maresca has said they would not be bringing him back too soon. With James’s history of injuries, the medics are being cautious not to bring any setbacks.
Benoit Badiashile is also in question for the opener. The center back has been out with a hamstring problem. And as he is recuperating, he might not feature in the first match. This could provide an avenue for the introduction of Levi Colwill as the partner to Thiago Silva at the back.
New Recruits and Team Depth
Chelsea’s summer signings have also been integrated into the team. Joao Pedro and Kendry Paez have been impressive in training, and both are expected to start the new season. Their acquisition adds depth and competition, which will come in handy for the team when managing injury in the long season.
With Dario Essugo, Liam Delap, and Mamadou Sarr on the substitutes’ bench. There is sufficient youthful energy to call upon in Maresca. This will become valuable towards the end of the season with the European games and domestic cups yet to be played.
Chelsea Medical Team’s Prudent Approach
Chelsea’s doctors have been cautious in the matter of player rehabilitation during the summer. The club is keen to steer clear of the injury epidemic that hit last season, when several of the first-team players were out of action simultaneously.
Maresca has expressed gratitude to the medical and fitness staff for their work, saying that their cautious strategy might lose some players the first match but in the long run be in better physical condition. The goal is to have a fully fit team available by the time matches catch up with one another in the coming months.
The Chelsea Fan Expectations
Supporters are praying that the injury situation will continue to go from strength to strength throughout the season. With a new tactical approach in place thanks to Maresca and an electrifying mix of young stars and seasoned veterans, there is hope at Stamford Bridge. But remaining injury-free will be the key to making their dreams come true, with the title race at the summit as fierce as ever.
Chelsea’s injury reports are both good and positive. The return of the likes of Enzo Fernandez and Christopher Nkunku is a huge plus. But the Blues will have to be careful with the fitness of Reece James and Benoît Badiashile. If the team remains fit, Chelsea have every hope of making a good start to the season. Thid might help building momentum for the times to come.