The 2024/25 campaign for manager Enzo Maresca is turning into a good one following his arrival at Chelsea over the summer as Mauricio Pochettino’s replacement from Leicester City.
30 games in (across all competitions) the 44 year old has overseen 18 wins and six draws and we are finally back in the top four with 36 points, and at this moment in time our minimum ambition has to the runners up spot or at the very least, a return to the Champions League.
In our Europa Conference League challenge, we are sat top of the pile in the newly rebranded competition on the full 18 points following six wins from six wins, and Chelsea have already established a tasty plus 21 goal difference.
This weekend though it is time for something different – the FA Cup third round is upon us and we welcome struggling League Two side Morecambe to Stamford Bridge for the clash.
Naturally, it represents the perfect opportunity for our gaffer to freshen the starting XI up, share some better playing minutes around whilst also allowing a couple to have a far better rest given the challenges that lie ahead of us and that is probably exactly what we can expect from the Italian.
Speaking ahead of the game in his meet and greet with the media, Maresca confirmed that both Reece James and Romeo Lavia would return to his match day squad for the ‘historic’ competition clash, but he obviously would not be drawn on my kind of part each player may play other than to say ‘hopefully’ they would get minutes.
The Chelsea squad would otherwise be as it has been, everyone continues to be available for selection, and those that were on the injury list remain there and definitely will not be risked.
Following his recall from Boca Juniors, he also stated that Argentine defender Aaron Anselmino would not yet be in contention to make his club debut as he planned on giving him a bit longer to settle into life at Cobham and adjust.
With team news for the game dealt with, Maresca continued to pay tribute to the competition and very heavily gave the impression that we would be taking it seriously as he was aware of our history and the fact that we are eight time winners, and I very much doubt he would not mind making that nine (who would?).
The most interesting comments he made probably surrounded the transfer window, as he explained that there were three categories of players at the club, but every player was well aware of whether or not they were available for sale, and if they were they would not be in contention this weekend.
Fans will draw further conclusions on who has no future here once we know his squad, although in fairness it is not that much of a mystery.
