Chelsea supervisor Enzo Maresca has admitted that he’s struggling to maintain all of his expertise glad forward of their recreation towards Leicester on Saturday.
The Blues’ first-team squad web page listed 43 gamers at first of the season, with 10 gamers having joined over the summer time.
Because of this, this has meant restricted recreation time for a number of the membership’s extra senior gamers, corresponding to Joao Felix who’s but to begin a Premier League recreation since becoming a member of completely in summer time.
Regardless of this situation, Chelsea have began the season properly and presently sit third after 11 matches, however Maresca feels a tinge of remorse at not having the ability to contain everybody.
“I really feel a disgrace for Joao and I wish to give him extra minutes within the Premier League however we want defensive steadiness and we can’t play with Joao, Cole [Palmer], Christo [Nkunku],” he mentioned.
“I’d prefer to put all of them on the pitch however then you could defend, and also you want the appropriate steadiness.
“I don’t have any doubts that if Joao retains working properly, he’ll discover his second within the Premier League.”
Our prime scorers to date this season. pic.twitter.com/LJsXfVQLQN
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) November 20, 2024
Leicester supervisor Steve Cooper, in the meantime, should decide his staff up following a 3-0 defeat at Manchester United previous to the worldwide break. He could have to take action with out key participant Ricardo Pereira, who’s out for 4 months with a hamstring damage.
“It’s an actual blow for everyone, and particularly him. We’ll all be with him now in his restoration,” he informed BBC Sport.
Having stored only one clear sheet in 11 league video games, Cooper can also be conscious of the place his aspect want to enhance.
“We’re not going to cover away from the possibilities and objectives we’re conceding, and we’ll preserve displaying intent to enhance that,” he mentioned.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Leicester – Jamie Vardy
Vardy is 37 years previous, however tops the scoring charts at Leicester having netted 4 objectives within the Premier League.
He has opened the scoring on one event this season and has a conversion price of 33.33% having scored his objectives from 12 pictures on aim.
Chelsea – Cole Palmer
Palmer ranks fifth within the Premier League prime scorers to date this season, having scored seven objectives. He additionally ranks equal-second for aim involvements, having added 5 assists alongside his objectives.
The Chelsea ahead has had no less than three pictures in 5 of his final six league video games and ranks fourth for whole pictures within the Premier League with 36.
MATCH PREDICTION: CHELSEA WIN
Chelsea earned a 1-1 draw at house to Arsenal of their final match earlier than the worldwide break, which left them third within the desk and 4 factors behind second-placed Manchester Metropolis
That draw implies that Chelsea have misplaced simply one among their final 10 league video games (W5 D4), which got here towards league leaders Liverpool in October.
Chelsea have misplaced simply one among their final seven away video games towards Leicester (W4 D2), successful 4 of their final 5 conferences total.
Leicester are winless of their final 13 Premier League video games towards sides beginning the day within the prime 4 of the desk (D3 L10). They arrive into this with three defeats of their final 4 matches in all competitions (D1).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Leicester – 19%
Draw – 21.6%
Chelsea – 59.5%
