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Enzo Maresca makes clear Fofana is ‘very happy’ as the search for ‘internal solutions’ continues

Enzo Maresca made clear that Wesley Fofana is "very happy" at Chelsea despite the uproar about his social media. The defender will be one of the "internal solutions" his manager uses in the absence of Levi Colwill, and he thinks the 24-year-old is focused on featuring against West Ham United.

‘Wes is happy’

**Wesley Fofana**had endured an injury-hit time last campaign with a pair of hamstring injuries. He watched the action against Crystal Palace from the bench to avoid any risk of a relapse, and Maresca mentioned he is in good spirits as he looks forward to making a return to the field for the Blues.

“I spoke with Wes every day. He’s very happy: first of all because he's back from injury. He’s joining all the sessions with us and he is very happy. For the Palace game, he was on the bench just to be with us but from tomorrow he's with us. He can get some minutes so we are happy and he's happy.”

But the French defender has caused a stir with his removal of all Instagram posts related to the **West London**club. The Italian insisted that he has no greater insight into how his situation has unfolded.

“Then about Instagram, unfortunately I don't have an idea because I do not use social networks.”

The 24-year-old has received many unsavoury messages on social media as a man whose stints on the sidelines have produced dissatisfaction on the return from a £70 million investment in the summer of 2022. The manager made known his sympathies, but he feels there is not much that he can do to help.

“Wes is happy, we are happy and there is nothing to add on that. Now I think if there are abuse as you said on Instagram never is good it's not good for Wes, it's not good for any player and it's not good for any human being in the world. It's something that unfortunately we cannot control.”

**Tosin Adarabioyo**missed the **Premier League**opener due to a knock, but he is available again.

*“Tosin is available is available for tomorrow. The last week against Palace the day before the game it was everywhere he was not available. Now you don't know he’s available the day before the game.*”

Aaron Anselmino was with the squad this summer after his loan back to Boca Juniors. However, he is likely to need more playing time elsewhere to maximise this year in the eyes of the 45-year-old.

“Aaron is training with us. He's training very hard. He's fantastic boy, good player, but he needs to play games. He needs to go and play games. So, it's another player that is waiting for solution.”

Benoit Badiashile, another left sided central defender, and Romeo Lavia will also be out of action. So, it might not be the last time that Josh Acheampong acts as the central player in their back three with the ball to fill in for Levi Colwill. Yet, Maresca maintains his belief in his playing principles.

“There is not in my mind in my view not to play from the back. As we said many times you can be a little bit more direct when you face team that try to be high pressing but uh it's not in my mind at all to play in different way. We sued Josh in the last game and we are trying to find internal solutions.”

‘It’s always better if they can find a solution’

With the transfer window still open, murmurs of more exits from the 'bomb squad' remain. Nicolas Jackson has shown his strengths as a support striker and done his best as the leader of the frontline for the last two years. Yet, it looks like his days are numbered in the first team at Stamford Bridge.

“He’s available, but he's not going to be part of the squad because as we already have two strikers, we have two players in the position and something can happen before the transfer window closes.”

Christopher Nkunku is in the same position as Jackson, but things are even more bleak for two of his teammates. Ben Chilwell, back from a loan to Crystal Palace, and Raheem Sterling, who had an explosive fallout before he spent last season at Arsenal, await an answer to being in isolated training.

“No idea to be honest. No idea. You know already from last season I prefer to be focused on training session, prepare the game and these kind of things. I don't know. Christo is with us like Nico, but he's the same answer than Nico. The other two players are training apart waiting for some solution.”

To be clear, Maresca is happy to move from Nkunku and Jackson. He did not open up about the idea to integrate them back into the team if they fail to find a way out of the door when September starts.

“We see if they're going to be here, they're going to be with us. In case they are not here, that means that they found a solution and at the end I think it's always better if they can find a solution because I think they're going to be more happy and the club the same.”

Part of his plan involves the threat that Joao Pedro provides from many roles in the attack. He has starred as a central forward, bringing home the Club World Cup with goals against **Fluminense**and Paris Saint-Germain, but his time at **Brighton**showed his skill from the left or as a second striker.

“Joao can play at the five positions in front: wide, inside the pitch or behind the striker. He can play all positions. Probably the nine or behind the striker is best. But he can play all attacking positions.”

The camp are also finding their feet after they experienced a short schedule for preseason. The Blues only played twice at the end of the week before they hosted Palace to prepare for the new campaign.

“For sure with more time we're going to be better and better. It where it is. We need to adapt. I think we show last week against Palace where until the end we compete, until the end we create chances and as I said we're going to be better and better day after day.”

After a 3-0 hammering at Sunderland, West Ham United will want to pile the pressure on Chelsea.

“All Premier League games are tough. They are difficult. If you remember the game at home last year was difficult for us. They defend very well. Tomorrow I expect the same. The Premier League just started so you can see they are trying to find some solution in the same way we are we are doing.”

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