Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has scrapped a scheduled day off for his senior squad after they suffered a shocking 3-0 defeat to the club’s Under-21s in a training match. Details from the session reveal why the 45-year-old was left frustrated.
During the international break, Maresca aimed to keep players not on national duty sharp ahead of the Premier League’s return in April. Initially, Thursday was set as a rest day, but after being comfortably beaten by the youth side, plans quickly changed.
Reports suggest the match was more of a training drill than a full game, featuring some of Chelsea’s top Under-16 prospects alongside 19-year-old Donnell McNeilly, who scored twice. Despite missing Chelsea’s recent loss to Arsenal due to injury, Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke took part, with sources indicating they performed adequately.
Disappointed by his team’s lack of intensity, Maresca ordered them back to Cobham for extra training, reinforcing that complacency cannot be tolerated as Chelsea pushes for European qualification. The Blues had lost three of their last five league games before the break, with their only wins coming against struggling sides Southampton and Leicester.
Tough Fixtures Ahead for Chelsea
Chelsea now faces a critical run of matches, including league clashes against Tottenham, Brentford, and Ipswich Town, as well as a Europa Conference League tie against Legia Warsaw.
This isn’t the first time Maresca has taken disciplinary action for underperformance. Earlier this season, he benched Madueke for failing to meet training standards, highlighting the winger’s tendency to lose focus after brief success.
Maresca’s first season at Stamford Bridge has been turbulent. After a strong start, Chelsea’s form dipped, coinciding with a slowdown in Palmer’s goal contributions. With just nine games left to secure a top-five finish and Champions League qualification, the Blues must find consistency while balancing their European commitments.
