In his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Maresca confirmed that Cole Palmer, who was an unused substitute during Chelsea’s 2-1 loss to Arsenal, is now available for selection. However, the 23-year-old forward will require careful management as he works his way back to full fitness.

“Cole is available,” Maresca said. “In the last match, he was on the bench, but with only 10 players on the pitch, it was a bit complicated for him to get involved. The plan is to gradually give him more minutes until he’s ready to play a full 90.”

Chelsea will still be without Levi Colwill, who continues to recover from an ACL injury, as well as midfielders Dario Essugo and Romeo Lavia. Maresca provided further clarity on their situations, saying, “Romeo is still in recovery, and Dario has started some sessions but needs to slow down, so he will be out again for this match. The rest of the squad is fine.”

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While Reece James delivered a standout performance in midfield against Arsenal, earning Player of the Match honors from Chelsea fans, Maresca suggested the 25-year-old may not start against Leeds. “I’d like to start him, but we need to make the right decision for his long-term fitness,” Maresca explained.

With Chelsea looking to bounce back from their recent defeat, all eyes will be on the lineup as they face Leeds in a crucial Premier League clash.

SOURCE: Punch

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The comments come just ahead of Chelsea’s crucial Champions League clash against Barcelona on Tuesday.

Estevao made an immediate impact since joining Chelsea in July, scoring nine goals for both club and country. His performances have drawn attention, with many eager to draw parallels between him and Spain international Yamal, who is just three months younger than the Brazilian.

In a pre-match press conference on Monday, Maresca was asked whether Yamal could serve as a role model for Estevao. The Chelsea boss, however, downplayed the comparison, insisting that the Brazilian was already proving himself at the highest level.

“Estevao is already playing at a high level; he’s in Brazil’s starting XI,” Maresca said. “Sure, he’s still very young and there are areas for improvement, but we are very happy with his progress.”

Maresca also praised Estevao’s potential, alongside the talents of other young stars like Yamal and Barcelona’s Pedri, who are exciting fans with their skill and flair. “It’s great for football lovers to watch players like Estevao, Yamal, and Pedri. That’s the beauty of the game,” he added.

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However, Maresca emphasized the importance of Estevao remaining focused on his own growth rather than external pressures.

“He’s going to be an important player for Chelsea, no doubt about it. But he needs to focus on himself—on getting better every day,” Maresca said. “He doesn’t need to worry about being better than anyone else. He just needs to keep improving.”

As for Chelsea’s upcoming match against Barcelona, both teams are tied on seven points in the Champions League, with four matches played. Maresca reflected on his own footballing philosophy, noting that he was deeply influenced by the possession-based style of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona, who won two Champions League titles under the manager between 2008 and 2012.

“I decided to become a manager because of Pep’s Barcelona,” Maresca admitted. “Now, teams can choose whatever style they prefer, but I’ve chosen mine. This is the way I want my team to play, both now and in the future.”

With Estevao looking to make his mark on the European stage, all eyes will be on the young Brazilian as Chelsea face Barcelona in what promises to be a high-stakes clash.

Source: Channels

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The forward has been managing a groin issue for some time, but Maresca told reporters there are currently no plans for an operation.

“The medical staff didn’t mention anything to me about surgery,” Maresca said. “I don’t know if that might change in the coming days or weeks, but I don’t think so, to be honest.”

Read Also: Maresca Confirms Cole Palmer Fit for Manchester United Clash

Despite not being fully fit, Palmer was eager to play against United.

“He made a huge effort to try and play,” Maresca added. “He did the test and was okay, not fully, but he wanted to be there to help the team. Unfortunately, it was painful, so we had to take him off. Now it’s more of a day-by-day, week-by-week situation.”

Palmer is expected to miss Chelsea’s Carabao Cup third-round clash against League One side Lincoln City on Tuesday. Romeo Lavia and Benoît Badiashile will also be unavailable.

With injuries mounting, Maresca is likely to turn to Chelsea’s youth academy for reinforcements, a move he admitted comes with risk.

Source: Punch

The post No Surgery Planned for Injured Cole Palmer, Maresca Confirms appeared first on Afinju FM.

The goalkeeper’s error had contributed to Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday.

Jorgensen made the costly error in the 89th minute, allowing Marco Asensio’s shot to go under his body.

The former Leicester City boss addressed the press ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League home clash against Southampton on Tuesday.

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When asked if Jorgensen will be dropped for Robert Sanchez, Maresca replied that many players need to changed game by game, if players are changed every time there is a mistake.

He said nothing has changed, adding that Jorgensen feels a little sad or upset because he recognised there was a mistake.

Jorgensen joined the Blues from Villarreal for close to £20 million last summer and has started the Blues’ past three league matches.

He has emerged as his side’s starting goalkeeper owing to Sanchez’s error-prone performances.

So far, Jorgensen has made 16 appearances across all competitions for Maresca’s outfit. The Dane has kept five clean sheets for his side so far.

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The 24-year-old missed much of last season after undergoing hamstring surgery, which was designed to help him overcome a series of injuries, but he returned to action last month.

He has suffered a further half dozen injuries to his knee, thigh and ankle – as well as an absence with illness.

Maresca played down concerns about a long-term lay-off but confirmed James will miss Saturday’s match at Leicester.

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He said James unfortunately felt something small in training two days ago, adding that they do not know for how long he would be fit, but hope it will happen soon.

Maresca also said James is out for the weekend as they do not want to take a risk for the weekend.

The Manager further stated that It’s probably difficult the Blues’ Captain can be available for next Thursday’s Conference League.

The likes of Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Malo Gusto and Romeo Lavia are all available despite pulling out of international duty last week.

But there is caution around Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez with Maresca saying his starting team will not be at 100%, with those traveling from international duty in South America completing just one training session on Friday before the match.

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