3. Players returning from injury and the final stretch
Chelsea have had their fair share of injuries. Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernández, Malo Gusto, Benoît Badiashile, and Roméo Lavia have all missed various games due to injuries. As mentioned earlier, Jackson and Madueke were also sidelined. Apart from Marc Guiu, every first-team player is now fit and ready. However, Maresca expressed concerns ahead of the match regarding Lavia, who has suffered yet another setback and remains a doubt for Thursday’s game.
With most players now available, Maresca can no longer use injuries as an excuse for Chelsea’s poor form. The Blues have nine league games remaining. After Wednesday’s results, they sit sixth in the table.
It is almost certain that a fifth-place finish will be enough for an English club to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League. However, Chelsea faces stiff competition for that spot from multiple clubs. Moreover, they have several tough fixtures ahead in the league. It is now up to Maresca to ensure his team starts winning matches rather than sticking with tactics and ideas that have failed for over three months.