Enzo Maresca Sends Message to Joao Felix, Cole Palmer as Chelsea Considers Defensive Shift

Chelsea are entering a critical phase of their season, and manager Enzo Maresca is under increasing pressure to turn their fortunes around. With the club enduring a run of disappointing results, including three draws and two losses in their last five Premier League matches, the Blues are desperate for a win.

The upcoming match against Wolves is a must-win, especially with Chelsea now sitting outside of the Champions League places following a midweek loss to Newcastle United.

This situation has forced Maresca to reconsider his squad choices, especially in defense, as injuries continue to hamper the team’s efforts.

One important change in Chelsea’s defensive setup comes with the recall of Trevoh Chalobah from his loan at Crystal Palace. Chalobah, who had a productive season with the Eagles, has been brought back due to the long-term injuries of Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile.

While Josh Acheampong is highly rated at Chelsea, Maresca has decided that it may be too risky to thrust the 18-year-old into a key role alongside Levi Colwill for the remainder of the season. As a result, Chalobah’s return adds much-needed depth and experience to a defense that has struggled for consistency.

Despite Chalobah’s return, the defensive issues persist, with Chelsea still on the lookout for additional reinforcements. Maresca has continuously tweaked his backline, with little success in establishing a solid defensive unit.

Chelsea’s last unchanged defense was in early November, and since then, the team has frequently rotated personnel in an attempt to stabilize the back.

However, the defense’s vulnerability has been a constant issue, contributing to dropped points in crucial matches. Maresca is reportedly considering further alterations ahead of the Wolves game to shore up the defense and avoid another disappointing result.

Offensively, Chelsea has faced similar challenges. While their attacking play has been creative at times, they have struggled with clinical finishing. In their recent draw against Bournemouth, Chelsea failed to capitalize on several clear-cut chances, a problem that has plagued them throughout the season.

Despite dominating possession and creating numerous opportunities, they have only managed to score four goals from 85 shots in their last five Premier League matches.

Maresca has acknowledged this issue, emphasizing the importance of clinical finishing. He also hinted at making changes to the attacking lineup for the upcoming match against Wolves.