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Maresca Defends Chelsea's Squad Rotation Policy Ahead of Conference League Clash

Posted : 06 November 2024

Enzo Maresca has defended his approach of rotating Chelsea's squad for Conference League matches, asserting that the club is "one team, one squad," despite regularly making sweeping changes for European fixtures. The Italian coach, in his first season at Stamford Bridge, has been fielding distinct line-ups for the Premier League and European competitions, which has sparked some debate. For example, he made 11 changes to the starting XI in Chelsea’s 4-1 victory over Panathinaikos, a win that put the Blues atop their Conference League group after two matches.

 

Maresca explained that the reason for this rotation is the depth of his squad, with 24 to 25 fit players who are all capable of playing across different competitions. He emphasized the long nature of the season and the importance of giving everyone a chance to participate, whether in the Premier League, FA Cup, or Conference League. While outsiders might perceive the team as having two separate sides, Maresca clarified that they are all part of one cohesive squad.

 

On the topic of Joao Felix, who has yet to start a Premier League match this season, Maresca acknowledged the challenge of balancing attack and defense. The Chelsea boss expressed his desire to give Felix more minutes but highlighted the necessity of maintaining defensive stability, which is sometimes hindered when attacking players like Felix, Cole Palmer, and Christopher Nkunku are all included in the line-up. Maresca remains confident that Felix will get his opportunity if he continues to work hard.

 

Looking ahead to Chelsea's upcoming Conference League match against Armenian side Noah, Maresca acknowledged the challenge of being favorites in the competition. He pointed out the mental and technical demands of facing teams like Noah, who may adopt different tactical approaches. Maresca also stressed that in today’s football landscape, high-quality players and teams exist beyond Europe’s top leagues, making every match a potential challenge.

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