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Chelsea's manager has indicated that the squad is experiencing the aftermath" of their recent global tournament campaign, with a significant number of squad members unavailable for the forthcoming fixture against Liverpool.

Current Fitness Status

Important attacker Cole Palmer is sidelined with a persistent groin problem, joining the roster of long-term absentees that includes Wesley Fofana, Liam Delap, Colwill, Santos, and Tosin Adarabioyo. Additionally, Trevoh Chalobah is banned following his dismissal in the recent loss to the Seagulls.

"It's the truth," Maresca commented. "Given that Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea have a high number of injuries, probably it's the result from the tournament. In this moment we have four or five backline players out, but we're going to try to adjust and discover the right solution."

Report Highlights Workload Concerns

A recent report from the global football union the organization showed that the club's squad were allowed three weeks off after winning the competition in the summer, while PSG, the beaten runners-up, rested their players for 22 days. The analysis connected this high schedule to the injury challenges experienced by both clubs.

The Italian manager voiced agreement with the report's findings and emphasized his faith in the young talent who will step in. The 19-year-old defender is expected to earn his fourth Premier League start in defense.

Trust in Young Players

"This is challenging," Maresca conceded, "but at the same moment we trust the ones that are available. For certain, when you can rotate one player after four or five matches, it's preferable. The longer you play alongside with colleagues, the understanding becomes stronger. Sometimes you don't have to speak to execute an action on the pitch – they grasp instantly. When you continue to rotate it's more hard."

"Yet I truly have faith in the young stars. Not only the young players that we buy but additionally the academy graduates from the academy. We gave opportunities last year to Josh so that demonstrates that I trust young players."

Conduct Issues Discussed

Turning to conduct matters, the manager claimed he is not concerned by the team's record of red cards. The team has been shown three red cards in their previous three games, including a player's dismissal in the Champions League victory over Benfica.

After Maresca appointment in mid-2024, the club has the worst conduct stats among Premier League teams, with seven red cards in seventy-three matches – one every 10.4 fixtures. Additionally, they lead the league for cautions under his leadership, with over a hundred bookings.

"I don't see a discipline issue," Maresca remarked. "It's necessary to review each incident individually. When it's a dismissal for bad intention or for poor behavior, it's distinct compared to the Manchester United red card or the Seagulls red card. In that cases, it's simply a choice that you have to take in two seconds, a moment. Should I commit foul or not? It's tough."