Ruthless Enzo Maresca lays down the law: Chelsea’s first XI up for grabs

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has firmly established himself as a decisive figure at Stamford Bridge, making it clear that no player is guaranteed a spot in his starting lineup, Soccernet.football reports.

Following Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Servette in the UEFA Europa Conference League playoff first leg, Maresca emphasised that his approach to team selection would be as uncompromising as his decisions regarding the club’s future.

Maresca has already cut ties with around 13 players, including notable names like Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Trevoh Chalobah, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Romelu Lukaku.

These players now face uncertain futures as they train separately, awaiting potential transfers or loan deals. As the transfer window approaches its final week, Chelsea must find new clubs for those deemed surplus to requirements.

Despite the upheaval, Maresca remains focused on his task, preparing Chelsea for a challenging Premier League clash against Wolves on Sunday.

“I judge the first XI depending on how they work every day,” Maresca stated. “If they are bad in a training session and they don’t train with intensity, they are not going to play.”

“Chelsea is a demanding club. You need to work hard, to fight until the end to get your place, and to be 100 per cent. If you think I’m going to give you a chance without working hard, [you can] forget about that. First XI tonight was this. We will see about the next game.

“I said about the goalkeepers. It’s about performance. If Robert [Sanchez] continues in the same way he will play Premier League, if not Filip [Jorgensen] will play. This is the way I like to work with the players.”

Maresca also hinted at potential new signings, but only if they significantly enhance the squad. He expressed satisfaction with the current team but left the door open for further reinforcements if needed.

Additionally, Maresca sees Joao Felix, recently secured in a £46 million deal, as a versatile option capable of playing as a No. 9 or in various attacking roles.

“If we sign for [the sake of] signing, it’s better that we don’t sign because we don’t need to [do that],” he said.

“But if we are going to sign players because they are going to help us improve, sure we will need players – otherwise we are happy with the way we are.”

Christopher Nkunku netted a second-half penalty and substitute Noni Madueke added a second as Chelsea secured a 2-0 win over Servette in the first leg of their Conference League playoff on Thursday night.