Following a 3-0 training loss against the club’s Under-21 team, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca cancelled a planned day off for senior players this week. Details of their forgettable training session and the reasons behind the 45-year-old’s ire have now surfaced.
Before they return to English top division play in early April, all 20 Premier League managers are entrusted with keeping the legs of those who have not been called up to represent their country during the international break ticking over.
Since their next game isn’t until the following Thursday, Thursday was originally supposed to be a day free for the Stamford Bridge senior camp. However, that all changed after they were soundly defeated in a training match by the team’s Under-21 squad.
Chelsea’s training match details Come into being
Maresca begs his teammates to maintain their focus.
Despite being characterised as a training exercise rather than a real match, according to The Athletic, the Under-21 team featured some of the top talents in the Under-16 division, and 19-year-old sensation Donnell McNeilly scored twice in their 3-0 victory.
Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke allegedly participated in the workout after injuries kept them from playing in Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over their London rivals before the international break, but according to sources, both players were very healthy.
Enraged by the poor performance, the former Leicester City manager, who is highly regarded by Premier League managers based on their playing careers, gave his players instructions to report to Cobham as their return preparations took a turn for the worse.
There is no place for slacking off between now and the end, especially as the west Londoners aim for European success, according to reports that the Italian tactician told his players as the campaign draws to a close.
Maresca’s team had dropped their last five league games going into the international break. Their two victories throughout that period were against Leicester and Southampton, who both appear certain to be relegated come May 2025.
Chelsea’s Upcoming Five Games
Date
The opposition (H/A)
Rivalry
03/04/25
Hotspur Tottenham (H)
The Premier League
06/04/25
Brentford (A)
The Premier League
October 4, 25
Warsaw Legia (A)
The Europa Conference League
13/04/25
Town of Ipswich (H)
The Premier League
April 17, 25
Warsaw Legia (H)
The Europa Conference League
Maresca has taken action on the basis of inadequate application for previous occasions. Winger Madueke was excluded from the matchday teams due to his poor training performance. Maresca stated in December that Noni is capable of much more. He is capable of much more.
“I don’t like the way he trained, which is why I’m not playing. He starts to drop a little bit the moment he starts to score or assist and is happy.”
It’s fair to say that Maresca’s tenure at Stamford Bridge has been a little turbulent during his first season. Palmer had a strong start to the season as a possible title contender, but things soon took a turn for the worst as his goals stopped coming.
The Blues have nine games left to break out of their current slump while balancing the demands of the Europa Conference League in order to guarantee a top-five finish in the Premier League and earn a spot in the Champions League.
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