Confirmed: Enzo Maresca doesn't fully trust his Chelsea squad

Cameron Smith

Updated: 27 Dec 2024 08:54 GMT
4 min read

After eight consecutive wins in all competitions from late November to mid-December, Chelsea have stumbled over the Christmas period.

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A 0-0 draw against Everton was followed by a disappointing 2-1 defeat to west London rivals Fulham on Boxing Day, with Marco Silva’s side claiming their first win at Stamford Bridge since October 1979 thanks to late goals from Harry Wilson and Rodrigo Muniz.

The Blues are now seven points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, having played one game extra, and Enzo Maresca’s stance on a title fight looks to have been the correct assessment.

Of course, Chelsea still have plenty of time to regain their form and mount a challenge to Liverpool, but it’s become apparent that Maresca doesn’t quite trust his full first-team squad as things stand.

The Italian has been rightly lauded for his ability to separate Chelsea’s squad in half - with one XI featuring prominently in the Premier League and the other given minutes in the Europa Conference League.

There has been an element of overlapping between the two, however it’s been extremely limited and it’s starting to become a problem in league matches due to several absentees.

Enzo Maresca doesn’t fully trust his Chelsea squad

Maresca has favoured sticking with his starting XI rather than twisting since his arrival at Chelsea and while that strategy has largely been successful, it could soon prove problematic with the festive fixture congestion.

It’s worth noting that Chelsea’s bench was extremely depleted during their aforementioned defeat to Fulham. Noni Madueke missed out due to a “technical decision,” Mykhailo Mudryk has been provisionally suspended for a doping offence, Renato Veiga and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall were both bizarre absentees, while Reece James, Romeo Lavia, Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile are all injured.

As a result, Chelsea’s bench consisted of Christopher Nkunku, 18-year-old trio Josh Acheampong, Tyrique George and Marc Guiu, who have a combined tally of 28 Premier League minutes, goalkeepers Filip Jorgensen and Marcus Bettinelli, the unfancied Axel Disasi, and Joao Felix, who plays in the same position as the Blues’ best player - Cole Palmer.

Maresca has raved about Acheampong and Felix on countless occasions this season, yet neither were rewarded with an appearance, despite the fact that Malo Gusto and Jadon Sancho both endured underwhelming afternoons.

Nkunku was the only substitute used by Maresca against Fulham, with the Frenchman replacing Nicolas Jackson in a change that now resembles the somewhat iconic substitution that seemingly always took place between Ross Barkley and Mateo Kovacic during Maurizio Sarri’s time at Stamford Bridge.

© IMAGO - Christopher Nkunku is a regular substitute in the Premier League

Maresca’s reluctance to use his substitutes bench against Fulham wasn’t a one-off either.

Nkunku and Madueke were the only players to come off the bench versus Everton on 22 December, while Nkunku (in the 83rd minute) was the sole substitute against Brentford one week earlier.

The Blues’ most effective and dangerous attackers are almost always included in the starting XI, but changing a game via substitutes is a string that is yet to be added to Maresca’s bow as a manager - despite the fact he has exceeded expectations since moving to Chelsea.

Furthermore, his reluctance to use substitutes in recent weeks is proof that Chelsea may need to reduce the gap in quality between their ‘A team’ and their ‘B team’ if they want to achieve Premier League success in the near future.

Additional new signings could therefore be required to bolster Chelsea’s squad depth in a fashion that appeases Maresca.