Enzo Maresca has just taken his press conference ahead of Thursday night’s second leg against Servette in the UEFA Europa Conference League.
As you’d expect, given the summer Chelsea have had and the fact that the transfer window closes this weekend, the focus was really on players who might be coming and going. But we did manage to get some team news out of the new head coach.
He confirmed that Romeo Lavia and Reece James are still out injured, while Pedro Neto and Malo Gusto are not travelling to Switzerland so that they can rest in preparation for the weekend.
It’s pretty much as expected then. With James out, Gusto is playing a lot and needs a break wherever we can find out. The fact we won the first leg of this tie means we can risk playing Axel Disasi at right back, as we did in the first game.
Neto didn’t have much time to adapt after arriving from Wolves, and he’s played significant minutes in all our games so far. With so many attacking options available, it’s a nice chance to give him a rest.
Maresca’s strategy lines up nicely with fans
So far, it’s been impressive how much Maresca’s thinking in terms of rest and rotation matches up with the wishes of most fans. Previous managers have always paid lip service to the importance of protecting players, but then have largely ended up chucking everything they have at games just to protect their own future.
It’s early days for Maresca, but so far so good on this front at least.
If he ends up giving a chance to young players like Josh Acheampong and Tyrique George once the game is already won, he will really be getting into people’s good books.
