The Blues have headed to the international break quite disappointedly. As they shared points with Nottingham Forest in the matchday 7 of Premier League, last weekend. Maresca and his men would have wanted to grab all the three points to solidify their top four spot before the break. But the Forest’s had some other plans.
To everyone’s surprise a goal from Chris Wood gave the visitors a lead right after the start of the 2nd half. However, Chelsea didn’t hang back too long. As Noni Madueke equalized in the 57th minute from the assist of none other than ‘Cold’ Palmer. But the Blues failed to score another goal despite having one more man in the pitch. As Forest midfielder James Ward-Prowse was sent off in the 78th minute.
But this was just one set back in a long journey. And Maresca himself would not prefer to remorse on it for too long. Chelsea have done a great job so far this season under the new manager. They are currently standing at the 4th place of the table with 14 points (4 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss). Chelsea have also done good in domestic and European competitions so far. So, the fans have already started to believe in ‘Maresca ball’, as he gives them the positive vibes.
Maresca is a very supportive manager who backs his players. But the Italian is also very strict when it comes to his gameplans. As we seen him excluding the likes of Ben Chilwell, Raheem Sterling and others from his squad-list earlier this summer. As the season continues forward we are hearing more about the situations regarding Chilwell and Chelsea. And it is rumored that Chilwell is set to leave the club in January.
Chilwell to leave in January?
Ben Chilwell was one of the key players behind Chelsea’s success in the Champions League back in 2021. But he has fallen down the pecking order under Maresca. As the Italian manager prefers Euro winning fullback Marc Cucurella ahead of him.
Maresca had excluded the Left-back from his squad-list this season. But Chilwell failed to find a new club before the transfer window closed. So, he had no other options left but to stay at Chelsea without any game time and digest that huge weekly salary.
But the Chelsea management was never ready to pay Chilwell £200,000-a-week to roam around the London. That is why Chilwell was added to the Chelsea’s 25 man squad-list last month. He even made his first appearance of the season against the Barrow‘s in the Carabao cup.
But the Englishman has realized that he is never gonna get his spot back permanently in Chelsea. And that’s the reason why he has decided to leave the club in January.
Atletico Madrid wants to sign another Chelsea player after the Gallagher deal
As per the reports of journalist Ekrem Konur, Spanish giants Atletico Madrid are interested to sign 27-year-old Chilwell from Chelsea in the upcoming January transfer window. Atleti manager Diego Simeone wants to strengthen his options at the left-back position. And Chilwell can be a perfect fit for that role under Simeone.
Chilwell operated as a traditional full-back in his earlier stages of his career at Leicester. But since he joined Chelsea, his game had become more offensive time by time. And Simeone exactly wants that from his full backs, as they play a very important role in his system.
And Atletico Madrid will also not hesitate to make a deal with the Blues. As they have recently completed a exchange deal with Chelsea earlier this summer to swap Conor Gallagher with Joao Felix.
Chilwell is also interested to join Atletico Madrid, as he always wanted to play in top European clubs. If Atleti decides to go for the Englishman they would have to pay somewhere around £25m.
As featured on Chelseanews.com
