Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has provided a positive update on his squad’s fitness ahead of their Premier League game against Newcastle United.
Following Thursday’s Conference League victory over Panathinaikos, Chelsea return to league action and host the Magpies at Stamford Bridge in the first of two games between the sides over four days.
Maresca and Eddie Howe faced each other in a league game on Sunday, with both teams meeting in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup at St James’s Park next Wednesday.
Chelsea were able to rest a number of players in midweek. Maro Gusto, Reece James, Nicholas Jackson and Moises Caicedo all remained in England, while Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia and Cole Palmer also remained at home as they were not registered in the Conference League or League Phase. Ta.
Maresca gave an update on the team’s fitness and confirmed there were no new concerns ahead of Sunday’s match.
Lavia (left) training with Mykhailo Mudryk (centre) at our Cobham training base. / IMAGO / PA images
“Everyone is fine,” Maresca told reporters during a preview of the match against Newcastle in Athens.
James and Lavia are on a fitness plan along with Fofana and will only play one game a week to carefully manage their minutes to minimize the risk of potential setbacks.
Lavia and James started for Chelsea against Liverpool, and Maresca admitted that the pair responded well to starting at Anfield, despite losing 2-1.
“They were very happy with the minutes they got,” admitted Maresca. “How was the performance? They finished very well. The most important thing is that there were no injuries.”
“At the same time, they weren’t happy because we lost that game. But like I said, Romeo, Wes, even Reese, the reason they’re not on the team here is probably Because they can’t do it at the moment.”The idea is to use it once a week because we play two games a week. ”
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