Chelsea is going to play against Qarabag in an exceedingly significant Champions League game in Baku. It is a game in which Chelsea’s head coach, Enzo Maresca, will be forced to decide some hard things regarding his team’s starting eleven.
The competition in Group C is very tight as both the teams have an equal number of points, hence the win might be the tie-breaker that determines the next round of the tournament. It seems that Maresca will use almost his entire squad to keep his team going in Europe despite the long and tiring journey to Azerbaijan.
Maresca Faces Injury and Rotation Challenges
The blues are still lacking the services of Cole Palmer, who is still recuperating from the groin issue. Liam Delap is coming back from suspension and is likely going to play, while Pedro Neto’s condition is a bit unclear as he had to leave the Tottenham game with cramp.
Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile, and Dario Essugo, the trio of long-term absentees, are not available. Coach decides the goalkeeper will be either Robert Sanchez or Filip Jorgensen, and thus on the right wing, both Reece James and Malo Gusto are options. The midfielder Andrey Santos that spoke to the press before the game will be the one to debut alongside Romeo Lavia.
Eyes on Europe Before League Return
With a weekend Premier League fixture against Wolves ahead, Maresca must balance squad freshness and form. Qarabag’s solid home record could test Chelsea’s focus, but the predicted lineup — Jorgensen; Gusto, Tosin, Acheampong, Marc Cucurella; Lavia, Santos; Estevao, Buonanotte, Gittens; Liam Delap — signals intent to dominate possession and press high.
Author’s Take
Maresca’s strategy reflects growing belief within his young side. Prioritising control and discipline could see Chelsea strengthen their European standing and carry confidence back into domestic competition.
