In a press conference, Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has revealed that four senior players will be missing from the squad when they face Servette on Thursday night in the Europa Conference League playoff tie. The Blues hold a 2-0 advantage from the first leg, where Christopher Nkunku and Noni Madueke scored at Stamford Bridge. Despite facing numerous threats from their opponents, Chelsea managed to secure the win.
Following their victory, Chelsea produced an impressive performance to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 6-2 in the Premier League. As they gear up for their fourth game in a busy two-week period, Maresca has decided to “protect” some of his players who will not feature against Servette.
Romeo Lavia, Reece James, Malo Gusto, and Pedro Neto are among the players who will be absent from the squad. Lavia has a minor hamstring issue, while James is also unavailable for the same reason. Gusto and Neto have been left out as a precautionary measure to ensure their fitness.
Maresca hinted at making mass changes for the Servette game, similar to the nine alterations made in the first leg. Axel Disasi could replace Gusto at right-back, while Mykhaylo Mudryk might retain his spot on the left. Joao Felix is not registered in time for the tie, ruling him out of the game altogether.
Players like Filip Jorgensen, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Renato Veiga, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Nkunku, and Marc Guiu could be recalled to the starting lineup. Maresca aims to keep the squad fresh and competitive as they look to progress in the competition.
