Chelsea’s Squad Woes: Maresca Faces Tough Decisions

Chelsea’s large squad has sparked criticism with many accusing the club of “recruiting badly.” The club lists 42 first-team players on its website, yet many haven’t appeared in training. Manager Enzo Maresca recently excluded Raheem Sterling from the squad and has faced constant questions about player futures. Conor Gallagher’s move to Atletico Madrid upset some fans while Armando Broja is set to join Ipswich on loan with a purchase obligation.

Several other players, including Ben Chilwell, Trevoh Chalobah, and Carney Chukwuemeka face uncertain futures. Chelsea continues to remain active in the transfer market, recently signing 11 players including Joao Felix for £45m. This activity has led to criticism for stockpiling players and discarding academy talent. Many blame Chairman Todd Boehly, though co-owner Behdad Eghbali holds more influence.

The club aims to reduce the wage bill by signing young players on long contracts to keep wages low and spread transfer costs. This strategy hedges bets on future stars while maintaining compliance with Premier League financial rules. Maresca manages the oversized squad by splitting it into a core group and a ‘loan group,’ which trains separately. This division helps him keep the main squad focused while managing disgruntled players.

Chelsea’s financial strategy carries risks as the club reported losses of £90m and £121m in recent accounts. Despite these challenges, the club aims to return to the Champions League and win silverware this season under Maresca’s leadership marking the third year of the new ownership’s tenure.