- Enzo Maresca has expressed his frustration over the size of Chelsea’s squad
- He said it is ‘not good’ to have a glut of players who don’t even train
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Enzo Maresca has expressed his frustration over Chelsea’s large squad, admitting it is “not good” that so many players are unable to take part in first-team training.
Chelsea currently have a staggering 43 players in their squad, but only 28 were selected for the club’s recent pre-season tour, with Maresca opting to leave the majority of the squad in London.
The situation has seen several high-profile players, including Romelu Lukaku and Kepa Arrizabalaga, reportedly forced to train separately as Chelsea search for solutions in the transfer market.
As the club looks to trim its bloated squad for the summer break, Maresca faces the difficult task of balancing preparations for the new season with the uncertainty surrounding the futures of numerous players.
He is not exactly thrilled with the task, venting his frustrations at the press conference ahead of Chelsea’s opening match of the 2024-25 Premier League season against Manchester City on Friday.
Blues manager Enzo Maresca has expressed his frustration at the size of Chelsea’s squad
He said it was ‘not good’ to have a glut of players not training with the first XI
Regarding the size of his squad, Maresca said: ‘If I think now that I have 43 players, that is not good. I have 28 who train with us.’
The Chelsea manager added: ‘Paul and Laurence are responsible for finding solutions for these boys, not me.’
Chelsea currently find themselves in a difficult situation with a bloated squad of 43 players, a staggering number even by Premier League standards.
This depth, largely the result of recent transfer splurges and the club’s focus on recruiting youth players, has created a logistical and tactical dilemma.
Managing such a large group of players is no easy task, especially for Maresca. He faces the difficult task of narrowing down his squad to players who can make a difference during the season, while keeping the morale high among those on the sidelines.
Chelsea currently have 43 players in their squad, but only 28 were selected for the club’s recent pre-season tour, with Maresca opting to leave the majority of the squad in London
Maresca faces the difficult task of balancing preparations for the new season with the uncertainty surrounding the futures of numerous players.
The club are expected to sell a number of players before the transfer window closes, but the delay in resolving these issues has put additional pressure on Maresca and the Chelsea board.
It’s a delicate balance between deciding who stays and who goes, and ensuring Chelsea are left with a streamlined, competitive squad capable of achieving their season-long objectives.
For now, however, the size of the squad remains a major hurdle as Maresca attempts to develop his vision and lead Chelsea into the new season.
More to come…