“I really like him now” “He’s in my plan” – Enzo Maresca reveals why he wants to bring back forgotten Chelsea man back into to his team
Since taking over, Chelsea’s new manager Enzo Maresca hasn’t held back when making audacious choices. He has told a number of players that they are not part of his plans for the current campaign and has advised them to look for other opportunities to play.
Raheem Sterling’s transfer to Arsenal on deadline day was one well-publicized move that gave the team a new direction. Ben Chilwell’s status at the team now seems questionable as he was left out of Chelsea’s Conference League roster.
Carney Chukwuemeka was a different player whose departure was rumored. The youthful midfielder has persisted at Stamford Bridge, though, and Maresca seems to be hinting that Chukwuemeka might make a comeback to the starting lineup.
In a pre-match press conference, Maresca expressed his admiration for the talented player, suggesting that he may soon feature in Chelsea’s plans.
“I really, really like Carney. But we have so many attacking midfielders. Unfortunately, we didn’t find any solutions [in the summer]. Now we can use him,” Maresca told Football London.
Chukwuemeka has yet to make a Premier League appearance this season, but the midfield area has been hit by injuries and fitness issues, potentially opening the door for his return. Romeo Lavia remains sidelined after an early-season injury, while Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo missed recent training sessions, casting doubt over their availability for Chelsea’s upcoming match against Bournemouth.
Maresca also hinted at the possibility of using Caicedo at right-back due to a shortage of fit first-team players in that position. With multiple midfielders injured, Chukwuemeka’s return could be timely for the Blues as they navigate these challenges early in the season.