Maresca: All Players Except James Available to Play; Managing Chelsea Not Easy

On September 28, the sixth round of the Premier League will see Chelsea face off against Brighton. Ahead of the match, Chelsea’s head coach Maresca attended a press conference.

Regarding Injuries

Lavia will be available for tomorrow’s game, but James still needs to recover. As for whether Lavia will have a chance to play, we still have one training session, and we’ll decide based on how he performs in training.

Regarding the Victory Over Barrow

Hearing some doubts is good for me, as it means the players are performing well. This is important and exactly what we need to continue improving. We’re creating the right culture in terms of team competition, which is crucial. Neto, Mudryk, Badiahsile, Casadei, and Disasi all performed well.

Regarding Chilwell

We certainly need him now, why not? I reiterate that he is with us. He is a Chelsea player, and if needed, we will give him opportunities and playing time. We all make mistakes, and I need to make decisions. Sometimes they are good, sometimes not, but I have no ill intentions, just trying to do what’s best for the club.

Regarding the Team’s Form

The team’s focus is on the matches. If we win, it’s important to continue this momentum. Sharing three points with the fans would make me very happy.

Regarding Whether Managing Chelsea Is Easier Than Expected

No, it’s not easy. The team has only had 2-3 weeks without being surrounded by external noise, which is important. This is the result I expected, and the process is both challenging and exciting.

Regarding the Players

Kaisedo is a top player. Regarding his transfer fee, that’s not his issue; it’s determined by the market. Sometimes a club spends a lot of money on a player and hopes for consistent performance, but things don’t always work out that way. We are very satisfied with Adarabioyo’s performance, both on and off the field; he is one of the leaders in the team. Cucurella is a very important player with qualities that are hard to find in others. I’ve been honest with everyone, including Nkunku, from day one, that we won’t field 7-8 attackers, as that would unbalance our attack and defense.

Regarding Keeping Clean Sheets in Three Consecutive Matches

Keeping clean sheets is important because it increases our chances of winning. The team is heading in the right direction, but it doesn’t mean we won’t concede in every match; that’s unrealistic. Making progress is more important.