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When Enzo Maresca’s beginning line-up was introduced earlier than Chelsea’s journey to on Sunday, there was a way of shock amongst many Blues followers throughout social media.
And after stretched their winless away run to eight matches, to go away their Champions League hopes within the stability, questions on his group choice grew even louder.
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Maresca rested Nicolas Jackson, Cole Palmer, Marc Cucurella and in-form Pedro Neto. In got here Malo Gusto, Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor, Christopher Nkunku and Noni Madueke, who all struggled to make an affect.
All 4 of Chelsea’s rested stars got here on within the second half, which noticed the Blues go from having simply six photographs and one on the right track earlier than the interval to 17 photographs and 4 on the right track after the break.
The Chelsea boss additionally confronted criticism from sections of the away finish, who’ve proven rising frustration at his fashion of play, amid chants of “assault, assault, assault” and “we have had a shot” throughout a poor first half.
The larger concern is that, though Chelsea stay fourth, the combat for Champions League locations is trying more and more aggressive, with , and all inside three factors of the Blues.
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With a Convention League quarter-final towards Legia Warsaw to return on Thursday, and the likes of Palmer and Jackson simply getting back from accidents, Maresca was fast to defend his squad rotation.
The Italian additionally blamed the short turnaround for his choice gamble, claiming it was unfair his aspect had 24 hours lower than Brentford to organize for the match, having performed at house on Thursday.
When pressed by BBC Sport on whether or not he may have rotated in different video games, he mentioned: “It is a totally different opinion. I am right here to attempt to do the perfect for the membership and gamers. I work day-after-day with the gamers so I can see how they’re.
“I am unsure if Spurs at house is tougher than Brentford away. For me, they’re all difficult.”
