Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has expressed his commitment to maintaining a positive atmosphere within his extensive squad, emphasizing that the 'feeling is good' as they prepare for Thursday's Conference League match against Gent. The 44-year-old Italian, who is in his inaugural season at Stamford Bridge, has overseen four consecutive victories across all competitions, propelling Chelsea to fourth place in the Premier League standings.
However, the club's sizable roster has resulted in prominent players such as Christopher Nkunku, Joao Felix, Pedro Neto, and Mykhailo Mudryk receiving limited playing time. 'We try to distribute minutes among all of them,' Maresca stated on Wednesday. 'At present, it may appear that we have players focused on the Premier League and others on cup competitions like the Conference, Carabao, or FA Cup. This is not the general approach; we aim to provide everyone with opportunities.'
When questioned about how Ukraine forward Mudryk, who was signed last year for up to £89 million ($118 million), could secure more playing time, Maresca acknowledged, 'They all want to start, but it's not always feasible. Decisions must be made. Last week against Barrow in the League Cup, he performed exceptionally well.' He also mentioned Christopher Nkunku, stating, 'The club signed him as a key player, and while he is not currently featuring in the Premier League, football dynamics can shift rapidly.'
Midfielder Cole Palmer, alongside Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana, has been omitted from Chelsea's squad for the Conference League to manage their workload. Despite Palmer's standout performance this season, including a four-goal haul against Brighton, Maresca is not concerned about his absence. 'It's not about dependency,' he explained. 'We have already played matches without Cole. For us and any team globally, Cole is an added asset, something we need, but we must also consider protecting certain players.'
Maresca believes Chelsea, who have navigated a tumultuous period under new ownership, are progressing as expected. 'We are ahead of my expectations,' he said. 'We are performing well and moving in the right direction, though there are numerous areas to improve, such as better attacking and defending. But we are content, the atmosphere is positive.'
Maresca expressed excitement about leading his team in the Conference League group stage, just three years after Chelsea's second Champions League triumph under then-manager Thomas Tuchel. 'It's an official competition, so we are enthusiastic, aiming to perform our best. It's a European competition, and we must be prepared for that.'
