2. Time for confidence or time for rest?
Chelsea can expect a relatively calm night at Stamford Bridge on Thursday. After winning 3-0 away last week, the chances of Legia Warsaw overturning the deficit are minimal. This means some players can be rested. However, since most of those first-choice players are not currently in top form, Thursday’s match provides a chance for them to get some goal contributions.
Players like Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, and Pedro Neto are all struggling for output. Jadon Sancho and Noni Madueke were among the scorers last Thursday. Christopher Nkunku had a chance to score from the spot, but he missed it. But the point remains: the players will have a better chance to find the net compared to a Premier League fixture.
So, the second leg provides an opportunity for Maresca to rotate and give the rest of his attackers a proper chance. It is up to Maresca to provide such opportunities to his players. But the question will remain whether he will be open to that, or if he will try to rest those players after starting them on Sunday against Ipswich Town. Up next for the Blues is a London derby at Fulham in the Premier League.
Sunday’s match is a must-win for Maresca’s side if they want to finish inside the Champions League positions. So whether it’s rest or confidence that is necessary for the players is a question Maresca must carefully consider.