Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has made it clear he has no regrets over his team selection in Saturday’s frustrating draw with Brentford.
With a Champions League showdown against Bayern Munich on Wednesday, Maresca rotated his starting XI. Full-backs Marc Cucurella, Reece James, and Malo Gusto began on the bench, while Facundo Buonanotte started in attacking midfield.
Trailing 1–0 at half-time, Maresca introduced several changes that sparked a potential comeback, only for Fabio Carvalho to strike at the back post in stoppage time and snatch a draw for Brentford.
Responding to criticism of his choices, Maresca stressed that he could not afford to think only about the Bayern clash.
“Our focus was about tonight and the reason why is because this season we play Champions League, because we did well in the Premier League,” Maresca explained.
“If we want to play again in the Champions League next season, we need to do well in the Premier League.
“Joao Pedro before the game asked me, that he was not fit 100% and that it was better that he doesn’t play. So if I was thinking about Bayern Munich, then João would be on the bench.
“Joao played because the focus was on tonight. But for sure when you have so many games you have to plan different options.
“Marc is a striker and we know him from last year but in this moment we needed to leave one of them out of the squad. I also wanted to give Ty [George] a little bit of confidence. He did quite well vs. Fulham and was OK today.”
Olaoluwa is a dedicated sports writer and passionate football enthusiast with two years of experience. Known for his keen analysis and commitment to the game, his work reflects a deep love for football, blending strategic insight with the emotional moments that make it a global passion. He is focused on honing his skills and consistently aims to inspire and engage readers through every article he writes.
