Enzo Maresca has already led Chelsea to two titles since his arrival in London, last year
After the FIFA Club World Cup win, it was expected of Enzo Maresca to deliver in the new domestic season. With two wins, and as many draws and losses, Chelsea have derailed their campaign in the past two weeks. They will also be missing out on seven to eight players for their upcoming match against Liverpool. Maresca, however, trusts his young players to rise up to the occasion.
"Cole (Plamer) is still out, Trevoh (Chalobah) is suspended, and we have seven or eight players out for tomorrow's game. It is a fact that I really trust the young players. Not just the ones we buy, but those from the academy. Josh Acheampong has played. We have four or five defenders out. We are going to try and adapt and find the right solution for tomorrow,” said Enzo Maresca, in a press conference, ahead of the Liverpool game.
Trevoh Chalobah, called back to Chelsea from Crystal Palace, was shown the marching orders in their previous league match against Brighton and Hove Albions. Chelsea have received 25 yellow cards and three red cards in the last nine matches. Maresca was not convinced to play the blame game, stating the red cards have to be ‘analysed’ as individual incidents, rather than viewing it as a major disciplinary issue.
“You have to analyse case for case. When it's a red card for bad intention or for bad discipline, its different compared to Man United red card or Brighton red card. In that case, it's just the decision that you have to take in two-three seconds. Do I commit a foul or not? It's difficult. I don't see any discipline problem. Even if we consider three-four red cards, that is not normal, but they are for different reasons,” remarked Maresca.
Liverpool observes a minute silence for Diogo Jota, ahead of their 2025-26 EPL opener against AFC Bournemouth
Liverpool’s perfect run in the season ended when they stumbled in a tricky away match to Crystal Palace, by virtue of a late winner, last weekend. Maresca feels that the visitors dropping points won’t keep them in an advantageous position in the upcoming clash, as he considers Liverpool the best team in England right now.
The Italian manager believes that the consistency and performance of the Reds is even more remarkable owing to what they are going through following the untimely demise of Diogo Jota, who passed away in a car accident, in July. Maresca empathised with the players as he faced a similar situation during his playing days as well.
"The way they're doing this season is fantastic, especially after the Jota tragedy. I went through exactly the same when I was a player 20 years ago. It's not easy for the players, club or the manager. When you arrive at the training ground and see every day that place empty. You have to be very strong. This is the reason why for me they're doing better because they are trying to deal with a problem that is not easy," stated Maresca.
In 2007, during Maresca's stint as a player with Sevilla, his teammate Antonio Puerta collapsed during their match against Getafe. Maresca was on the field at that time. Three days later, Puerta passed away, and the cause of death was recorded as cardiac arrest caused by a hereditary heart condition.
