Enzo Maresca has insisted signing Jadon Sancho was not a risk, but Chelsea’s head coach has reminded the winger that he will play only if he trains well.
Sancho, who has joined on loan with an obligation to buy, found himself out in the cold at Manchester United after clashing with Erik ten Hag. The United manager was open about his dissatisfaction with the England international’s level in training, but Maresca is not worried about the attacker’s past.
“I don’t consider Jadon a risk because I consider Jadon as a player who can help us,” he said. “I don’t have any idea about what happened with Erik. I can just judge the player in the weeks he has been with us and he has been perfect.
“If they perform during the week then they have a chance. This is for Jadon and everybody: if they don’t work properly they are not going to play. The only way to do the right things for the team is that you give chances to players who deserve them and they work hard. Jadon is working well with us since he has arrived.”
Maresca will have Cole Palmer for Saturday evening’s trip to Bournemouth after the attacker pulled out of the England squad. Palmer has had an intense year and Chelsea have protected his workload by omitting him from their squad for the group stage of the Conference League. Roméo Lavia and Wesley Fofana have not been included after last season’s injury woes.
“With Romeo and Wes it is quite clear because they didn’t play last year,” Maresca said. “We have to not be thinking to give them minutes in the Premier League and then after three days in the Conference League, and then in the Premier League again.
“For Cole, I know him quite well. For him last year was quite intense, busy – from City to here, then scoring many goals. I think if we want to help Cole we don’t need to think all the pressure has to be on his shoulders. He has to share it with his teammates. It is the only way to try and do again what he did last year.”
Chelsea have named Ben Chilwell in their 25-man squad for the Premier League after the left-back failed to secure a move away. Chilwell has trained away from the first team since being told that he has no future under Maresca, who said last month that players on the fringes would not get any minutes under him.
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“We will sit with him and find solutions,” Maresca said. “He is probably going to be back with us. We will see. At the moment, he is not training with us. The reason why he was training apart is because the idea was for him to leave.”
Nicolas Jackson has extended his contract until 2033.