Maresca PUNISHES Chelsea squad after EMBARRASSING academy defeat

Cameron Smith

• 28 Mar 2025 15:00 GMT
• 4 min read

News

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has reportedly cancelled a scheduled day off after his first-team squad suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat during a training match against the club’s U21 side.

The Blues have endured a tricky run of results over the past few months - picking up just four wins in their last 13 Premier League matches - and their place in next season’s Champions League is in doubt as a result.

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However, things have seemingly now reached a new low.

Enzo Maresca was left fuming and cancelled yesterday’s day off for the players as Chelsea’s U21s (including U16s) beat Chelsea’s first team 3-0 in training on Wednesday 🙊

Donnell McNeilly (2) and Chizzy Ezenwata with the goals 💙 pic.twitter.com/WadBm27gNG

— The Chelsea Spot (@TheChelseaSpot) March 28, 2025 " target="_blank">The Chelsea Spot have claimed that Maresca’s first-team squad were beaten 3-0 by a Chelsea U21 team during a training match this week, with the academy side featuring several U16 players.

A brace from Donnell McNeilly, who is out of contract this summer, and a strike from Chizzy Ezenwata reportedly helped the Chelsea youth team claim a major scalp in training, and Maresca opted to cancel a scheduled day off on 27 March as a result.

The Italian was reportedly left “fuming” by his side’s result and opted to punish his squad by calling them in to training on their day off.

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Chelsea’s international players - such as Reece James, Enzo Fernandez, Pedro Neto, Marc Cucurella and several others - didn’t feature, while Cole Palmer was also absent as he continues to work his way back to full fitness.

However, The Chelsea Spot have reported that Malo Gusto, Benoit Badiashile, Tosin Adarabioyo, Romeo Lavia, Jadon Sancho and Christopher Nkunku were all involved in the match.

Chelsea U21s make an impression

Chelsea’s U21 side are currently fourth in the Premier League 2 table, having amassed 32 points from 18 league fixtures.

Academy stars Tyrique George, Josh Acheampong, Sam Rak-Sakyi, Harrison Murray-Campbell, Shumaira Mheuka, Kiano Dyer, Ato Ampah and Genesis Antwi have all made their first-team debuts so far this season, and the crop of youngsters at Cobham have clearly shown they are capable of the step up to senior football.