In this video
- Maresca said the injured striker has no fracture, which is good news. Cole Palmer is not available: with two games in three days they planned it, just as a way to protect him.
- Asked about Reece James and another player who both played on Saturday, Maresca said both are with the squad and available. They will see the starting eleven tomorrow.
- With the striker out, Maresca said others have played as a nine, as one did at the start of the season. The striker needs games to get fit and, he thinks, was a bit better, but is now out again.
- Maresca is not sure how long the striker will be out. Asked if a player still at the club could come back into his thinking, he said they are Chelsea players and, with January coming, anything can happen.
- Maresca said he is in love with Atalanta, a matter of pride for Italians, who have had few football reasons for it. He expects an intense game against an aggressive side.
- Asked about Alejandro Garnacho, Maresca said he can give much more, like all the players. He wants to learn and is open-minded; some games he struggles a little more, but overall he is doing well.
- Asked what he misses about Italy, Maresca said he is a good chef when he finds spare time, which is almost impossible. His signature dishes are the ones hard to find in restaurants, from his mum and grandma.
“If you go to the toilet they follow you… they follow you everywhere.”
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca press conference ahead of their Champions League match with Atalanta.
Maresca Explained why Cole Palmer hasn’t travelled with Chelsea and said that Cole Palmer must be protected and this is a carefully managed rotation.
while Reece James and Wesley Fofana are included in the squad but Maresca refused to confirm their place in the starting XI.
Liam Delap is once again sidelined, though thankfully without a fracture, as Chelsea continue to look for solutions in attack. Maresca confirmed that João Félix and Pedro Neto could fill in up front, and even mentioned Raheem Sterling as a possible option in the coming weeks.
The Italian manager reflected on Atalanta’s rise as a symbol of pride for Italian football, praising their transformation under coaches like Gasperini and Palladino. He also spoke openly about the challenges of playing three away games in a single week, citing fatigue and travel as key obstacles.
Despite this, Maresca expressed confidence in his squad and their preparation for the intensity of Atalanta’s style.
