Chelsea boss Maresca insists Premier League spots are up for grabs as fringe players get set for Noah test

Enzo Maresca is expected to ring the changes once again when Chelsea take on Noah in the Conference League tomorrow night but he has denied suggestions he has one squad for European competition and another for the Premier League.

The Chelsea side that lined-up against Panathinaikos in their last continental tie featured 11 changes to that which faced Liverpool in the league four days earlier, not that it looked any weaker as the visitors cruised to a 4-1 win in Athens.

And Maresca said the door is open for any player to appear in any game this season.

He said: “It’s not a problem in terms of the ones that are playing in the Premier League, they also played some games in the Conference League. The last one being Marc Cucurella.

“I have said many times, the ones that are playing in the Premier League doesn’t mean they won’t play in the Conference and if they play in the Conference doesn’t mean they won’t play in the Premier League. This season is so long, we have so many games and for sure they are all going to play Conference League, Premier League or FA Cup.

“I can understand from the outside you can see two teams, but we are just one team, one squad, 24 or 25 players when all fit. We are going to try and use all of them.”

Onto the next one. 💪 pic.twitter.com/BsrPFSOMxV

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) November 5, 2024

No Sancho and Palmer struggling

The only player eligible for the Conference League that is not available for tomorrow night is winger Jadon Sancho who is ill.

Cole Palmer was not included in Chelsea’s European squad but has emerged as a doubt for the weekend game with Arsenal.

The England international sustained a knock late on at Manchester United on Sunday and didn’t train yesterday.

If Palmer doesn’t make it, it could create a vacancy for Joao Felix, who has struggled for game time since joining from Atletico Madrid over the summer.

Maresca said: “I feel [it is a] shame about Joao and I would like to give him more minutes in the Premier League, but I have said many times we need defensive balance and we cannot play with Joao, Cole [Palmer], Chris [Nkunku].

“I’d like to put them all on the pitch, but then you have to defend and you need a good balance between attacking and defending and this is the only reason why.

“I do not have doubt that if Joao keeps working well he is going to find his moment in the Premier League.”

Noah arrive as unknown quantity

Felix is likely to start against Armenian side Noah, who are relatively unknown outside of their homeland.

“In the last two or three days we have watched different games from them,” said Maresca. “I said many times that the Conference is a bit of a tricky competition for us because everyone against us they want to do [well]. We have to be ready technically, but also mentally.

“They play a different shape so we don’t know how they are going to come here and play, we try to be ready.”