Enzo Maresca has flatly denied that he regrets leaving Ben Chilwell out of the Conference League squad.
The Englishman had been frozen out all summer, but was added to the Premier League squad at the last minute. He then ended up playing against Barrow in the EFL Cup last week.
Asked whether it would be handy to have the nominal club captain available in Europe too, Maresca gave a rather gruff “no.”
It was a decision that made sense at the time as the club looked to force Chilwell out, but let’s face it, it WOULD be useful to have Chilwell in the UEFA squad, whatever Maresca says. It would allow the flexibility of Renato Veiga playing in midfield. Currently, if the Portuguese is hurt or needed in midfield, there are no other options at left back.
The fact that he featured in the EFL Cup, even without there being injuries to Veiga or first choice let back Marc Cucurella, just proves it.
You can see Maresca speaking in the clip embedded here:
Enzo Maresca on leaving Ben Chilwell out of @ChelseaFC’s @europacnfleague squad🗣️
Reporter: “With the problems you have at fullback, maybe you have regrets about not including Chilwell in the squad?”
Maresca: “No I don’t think so”😬
🔗https://t.co/p157nz5oQd pic.twitter.com/3fcza44uU1
— Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) October 2, 2024
Chelsea one injury away from full back issues
Image Marc Cucurella gets injured for a month – we would then see Veiga every week in the Premier League. So who plays the cups? Or if Veiga is hurt, what happens? Of course players like Levi Colwill can cover on the left, but he’s a first team player. The whole point is we want him rested in cup games.
Ultimately, there’s almost certain to be a player who has been included in the Conference League squad who ends up used less than Chilwell would have been had he been on the list. And that makes it a pretty clear mistake, albeit one that one can understand.
Still, all being well, it’s not an error that will have too many ramifications.
