Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has been pushing his squad hard in training ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash against Brentford. The Blues aim to improve their record at the G-Tech Community Stadium, where they have drawn each of their last three visits, including two goalless matches. Since Brentford’s promotion to the Premier League in 2021, Chelsea have only beaten them three times across all competitions.
Speaking ahead of the game, Maresca acknowledged the challenge of facing Brentford, saying it is “always a tough game.” He highlighted that the Premier League’s competitive nature means every match is difficult, regardless of whether it is considered a derby. Maresca noted that their upcoming opponents, including Crystal Palace, Fulham, and West Ham, have been performing strongly, and he expects similar challenges against Brentford.
Palmer Makes Return
Cole Palmer has returned to training after a groin injury sustained during the warm-up to Chelsea’s 5-1 win over West Ham last month. The 23-year-old missed the subsequent 2-0 victory over Fulham. Maresca confirmed that Palmer participated in training on Thursday, though not for the entire session, and would be assessed again in Friday’s session before the match. The manager emphasized that Palmer’s absence was due to injury recovery rather than game-time management.
Badiashile Builds Match Fitness
Defender Benoit Badiashile resumed training this week. The 24-year-old has yet to feature for Chelsea this season, but with Levi Colwill still recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, Badiashile could play an important role in the upcoming fixture.
Brazilian Trio on Recovery Duty
Estevao Willian, Joao Pedro, and Andrey Santos returned late from international duty after Brazil’s 1-0 loss to Bolivia. They did not train on Thursday but participated in a recovery session to regain fitness ahead of the Brentford match.
Caicedo’s Late Return Raises Doubts
Moises Caicedo only returned to the UK on Thursday evening, limiting his preparation to a single session before the game. Maresca described the 23-year-old midfielder as a doubt for the fixture.
Youngster Reggie Walsh in First-Team Training
Chelsea’s 16-year-old midfielder Reggie Walsh was spotted training with the senior squad this week. With several midfielders either injured or doubtful, including Dario Essugo, Andrey Santos, and Moises Caicedo, Walsh could be given an opportunity to feature in the Premier League. Walsh made his senior debut last season in the Conference League during a 4-1 win over Djurgårdens.
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