Negatives - Continued
2. Maresca’s baffling team selection
Cole Palmer’s injury was unfortunate, but Chelsea still had enough quality to field a balanced lineup. Instead, Maresca’s decisions made things more difficult.
Romeo Lavia, a key player earlier in the season, had been fit for a week yet remained on the bench. Instead, Maresca opted to start Reece James, not at right-back, but in midfield once again, where his strengths were wasted.
Chelsea had two natural right-backs available in James and Malo Gusto. Yet, Wesley Fofana, a center-back, was deployed there instead. One of Chelsea’s most successful defensive partnerships earlier in the season was Levi Colwill and Fofana at center-back. But Maresca broke that up, playing Benoît Badiashile instead. Meanwhile, Gusto, an actual right-back, was left on the bench.
Reece James staying in midfield also forced Enzo Fernández into an attacking midfield role. Yet earlier this season, Maresca said that only one of Cole Palmer or Christopher Nkunku could play as the central attacking midfielder. With Palmer unavailable, Nkunku could have slotted in naturally, but instead, he was pushed to the left wing.
Maresca’s decisions didn’t just weaken the team, they actively hindered Chelsea’s best players from performing. And that’s before even addressing his continued backing of Robert Sanchez.