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Enzo Maresca has indicated that his team is facing the aftermath" of their previous global tournament involvement, with a significant number of players unavailable for the upcoming match against the Reds.

Present Injury Situation

Important player Cole Palmer is sidelined with a persistent muscle problem, adding to the roster of lengthy absentees that features Fofana, Liam Delap, Colwill, Santos, and Adarabioyo. Additionally, Chalobah is suspended following his red card in the recent loss to Brighton.

"It's reality," Maresca stated. "If PSG and Chelsea have so many injuries, likely it's the result from the Club World Cup. In this moment we have several backline players out, but we're going to attempt to adjust and find the right solution."

Report Points to Workload Concerns

A recent report from the global football union Fifpro showed that Chelsea squad were allowed 20 days off after winning the Club World Cup in July, while PSG, the defeated finalists, rested their players for over three weeks. The report connected this high workload to the fitness challenges experienced by the two teams.

The Italian manager voiced alignment with the report's conclusions and stressed his faith in the youthful players who will step in. Josh Acheampong is likely to earn his fourth Premier League start in the backline.

Belief in Youth

"This is challenging," he conceded, "however at the same moment we trust the ones that are here. For certain, when you can change one individual after several matches, it's preferable. The more you play together with colleagues, the understanding becomes stronger. Sometimes you don't even need to speak to execute an action on the field – they understand instantly. When you continue to rotate it's increasingly hard."

"Yet I really have faith in the emerging stars. Not only the young players that we purchased but additionally the academy graduates from the academy. We provided opportunities last season to Acheampong so that shows that I rely on young players."

Conduct Record Addressed

Regarding disciplinary concerns, Maresca claimed he is not concerned by the team's record of red cards. The team has been shown three send-offs in their previous as many matches, featuring a player's dismissal in the European win over Benfica.

Since Maresca arrival in mid-2024, the club has the worst conduct record among top-flight clubs, with seven dismissals in 73 matches – a red card every ten point four matches. Furthermore, they top the division for yellow cards under his leadership, with over a hundred cautions.

"I don't see a conduct problem," he remarked. "It's necessary to analyse each incident individually. When it's a red card for bad intention or for bad discipline, it's distinct from the Manchester United incident or the Brighton red card. In those case, it's just a decision that you have to make in two seconds, a moment. Do I commit foul or not? It's tough."