Enzo Maresca has warned his Chelsea players not to treat Wednesday’s trip to Leeds any differently than their glamorous showdowns with Arsenal and Barcelona in the last week, reminding them that the three points available are worth exactly the same.
The Blues built themselves up into a frenzy for those fixtures, holding Arsenal to a 1-1 draw despite playing most of that Premier League match with 10 men after beating Barca 3-0 in the Champions League.
Not wanting his young squad to make the mistake of thinking an away game at Leeds should be seen as worth anything less, Maresca said: ‘Now, the main message for me is quite clear. How many points beating Barcelona? Three points. How many points beating Arsenal? Three points. How many points beating Leeds? Three points.
‘I understand that there are games that are more important for different reasons, but again, it’s three points, so it’s important to beat Leeds, because we need to win games.
‘Leeds and Bournemouth, both games, especially away, are difficult for Chelsea. They are difficult for any team. They’re going to be different games compared to Barcelona, Arsenal. We need to be ready. We need to try to win both.’
Chelsea are still without Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo, who would have been a contender to deputise for the suspended Moises Caicedo after his red versus Arsenal, but Maresca said Cole Palmer should feature for the first time since September.
‘He is available, he can start, the idea is to start giving minutes until he can play 90,’ said the Blues boss on Palmer.
Reece James is unlikely to start after his impressive full 90 against Arsenal as Chelsea are trying to protect him, given his injury history. ‘It’s complicated,’ Maresca said on James. ‘I would like to start him, but we need to do the right thing.’
