Enzo Maresca touched on several topics during his press conference ahead of the Premier League visit to Bournemouth. The Italian shared insight on injuries, player availability, and on recent performances. He confirmed that Reece James is still not ready to return, needing more time to recover. “Reece James is not ready, and he needs more time” Maresca stated. He also mentioned that Malo Gusto will miss the upcoming match, further limiting his defensive options. On a positive note, the coach revealed that Romeo Lavia is nearing a return, saying, “Romeo Lavia is very close, hopefully he is back for the next game.”
This is just the start. 💙
Chelsea is delighted to announce Nicolas Jackson has signed a two-year contract extension until 2033. ✍️ pic.twitter.com/stzAMtHk6d
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 13, 2024
When asked about Ben Chilwell, Maresca left the door open for a potential return to the squad. “We will sit with him and find a solution. He is probably going to be back with us, we will see” he said. Chilwell has been training apart from the squad, which Maresca explained was due to the club considering a transfer move. “At the moment, he is not training with us. The reason why he was training apart is because the idea was for him to leave” Maresca clarified.
Regarding Carney Chukwuemeka, Maresca expressed admiration for the young midfielder but acknowledged the crowded competition in the squad. “I really, really like Carney Chukwuemeka but we have so many attacking midfielders” he admitted. With no solutions found during the summer transfer window, Maresca is now looking forward to utilizing Chukwuemeka in the team. “Now we can use him” he added.
Maresca also commented on Jadon Sancho’s performance during the international break, expressing satisfaction with what he’s seen. “He has been exactly what I expected” the Italian said. “He’s a very good player, a one-v-one player with quality in the last third. I’m sure he’s going to help us.”
In other news related to Chelsea, the club has confirmed that Nicolas Jackson has signed a new contract with the club, extending his stay until June 2033.