Enzo Maresca could be set to make major changes to his Chelsea lineup for the Premier League clash against Brentford. With a Champions League tie against Bayern Munich only three days later, the Italian coach may rotate heavily to balance the workload of his squad.
Chelsea’s injury concerns have already shaped Maresca’s selection options. Cole Palmer and Liam Delap have both been sidelined with muscular problems. While Delap is expected to be out for several months, Palmer has shown signs of progress, with Maresca confirming the young attacker is edging closer to full fitness.
Speaking ahead of the match, Maresca explained:
“Cole took part in training yesterday for the first time, not the entire session. We’ll try him again today and if he’s okay, he could be available, otherwise he will miss tomorrow. It’s not about managing his minutes—it’s simply about his recovery from injury. Once he is available, then yes, we will also need to manage him carefully given the number of games.”
The bigger issue for Chelsea lies in their returning internationals. Joao Pedro, Estevao Willian, and Andrey Santos all featured for Brazil in Bolivia, while Moises Caicedo represented Ecuador—missing one game and then being sent off in the other. Their late arrivals back in London have left Maresca uncertain over their readiness for the weekend.
“The three Brazilians only arrived yesterday,” Maresca revealed. “They didn’t train, just had recovery sessions. Moises arrived last night so I haven’t even seen him yet. When you play in Bolivia, it’s very tough, and recovering in time for the next match isn’t easy.”
Caicedo and Pedro have both started every league game so far this season, with Estevao regularly featuring as well. Santos has been limited to cameo appearances, but with Dario Essugo sidelined for months, the Brazilian midfielder may soon play a more prominent role.
Among the potential changes Maresca is weighing up is the debut of £40 million summer signing Alejandro Garnacho. The Argentine winger joined from Manchester United and could be introduced at Brentford as Chelsea juggle injuries and fixture congestion.
