All is well in Enzo Maresca’s land at Chelsea and the Stamford Bridge faithful will be hoping for a serene display on Tuesday night.
The blues start theirs Carabao Cup trip against confident League Two leaders Barrow after extending their Premier League unbeaten run to four games with 3-0 win at West Ham on Saturday The win meant Maresca became the first manager since Pep Guardiola in 2016 to win his first three Premier League away games at a new club.
Given the strength and depth of the squad at his disposal, the Italian will make wholesale changes to this starting eleven in midweek. It looks as if the new manager has already run into his preferred XI, so Tuesday’s game is important for fringe players looking for more minutes.
Here’s how Chelsea could line up against Barrow on Tuesday night.
GK: Filip Jorgensen – Robert Sanchez is Chelsea’s number one and the Spaniard has enjoyed an excellent start to the season. Summer arrival Jorgensen is the deputy and will earn most of his minutes in cup competitions.
RB: Axel Disasi – Reece James and Malo Gusto remain on the sidelines, so converted centre-back Disasi will get the nod at right-back.
CB: Tosin Adarabioyo – The first signing of the Maresca era has a usurpable Wesley Fofana ahead of him on the depth chart. Tosin will be ready to make an impression on this one, although he may not be particularly busy.
CB: Benoit Badiashile – The former Monaco defender has endured an up-and-down Chelsea career, with Levi Colwill flourishing at the start of the new season to leave Badiashile on the fringes.
LB: Renato Vega – Vega is a versatile operator and could start in midfield. However, a reversed left-back role also suits the former Basel star.
CM: Moises Caicedo – The Ecuador international has quickly become one of Maresca’s most trusted lieutenants. He has been excellent at the start of the 2024/25 campaign and can captain the team on Tuesday night.
CM: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – Maresca’s point man in the East Midlands is a safe bet to break into the team after being limited to cameo appearances in the Premier League until now The presence of Caicedo and the possible investment of Veiga will allow Dewsbury-Hall to approach the left half space.
RW: Pedro Neto – The resurgence of Noni Madueke has limited Neto’s playing time at the start of his Chelsea career. These are the types of contests the winger will want to dominate.
AM: Joao Felix РIt has been a smooth start for F̩lix in his return to the club despite scoring at Molineux. He has the almighty task of usurping Cole Palmer for the start of the Premier League.
LW: Mykhailo Mudryk – there are rumblings of Mudryk’s stay at Chelsea potentially coming to an endwith Ukrainian failing to gain any positive momentum in West London. He has done little to convince Maresca so far.
ST: Christopher Nkunku – Maresca’s faith in Nicolas Jackson was vindicated the following weekend Nkunku had won Chelsea’s game at Bournemouth the previous week With the Frenchman coming off the West Ham bench, he should return to the starting eleven and play a withdrawn striker role.
