Enzo Maresca almost admitted to his mistake of exiling Ben Chilwell as the Chelsea vice-captain is set for a new lease of life at Stamford Bridge.
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- Chilwell was asked to find a new club in the summer
- The full-back was even barred from first team training
- Was brought back into action against Barrow
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Chilwell had been out of favour during the pre-season, with Maresca reportedly encouraging him to seek a new club. The defender was relegated to what was dubbed a "bomb squad," a group of high-profile players considered surplus to the team’s needs.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
On Tuesday night, Chilwell made his long-awaited return to competitive action for Chelsea during their 5-0 Carabao Cup demolition of Barrow at Stamford Bridge. Starting the match on the bench, the 27-year-old was introduced at halftime, replacing Malo Gusto. He put in an impressive shift and is now primed for some more action over the weekend in the Premier League.
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WHAT MARESCA SAID
When asked if Chilwell would feature more regularly moving forward, Maresca stated: "Yes, at the moment we need him, why not? I said already many times and I will say again that, as long as Chilly is with us, he is a Chelsea player. And if we need him, we give him a chance and minutes."
The answer was followed up with another question which asked if the manager regretted instructing Chilwell to look for a new club. He replied: "We all make mistakes. Probably yes; probably no. I am here to make decisions. Sometimes they are good decisions and sometimes they are not good. The only thing I can say is that there is not any bad intention from me. It is just to see things and try to think about the best things for the club."
- AFP
WHAT NEXT FOR CHILWELL?
Maresca’s change of heart reflects his willingness to reassess his earlier decisions, especially as the team continues to navigate a gruelling schedule across multiple competitions. Now, it remains to be seen if Maresca walks the talk and hands an opportunity to Chilwell against Brighton at Stamford Bridge this Saturday.
