Chelsea's coach cannot deploy players as desired

The loss to Leeds United left The Blues' supporters disheartened, particularly following their strong performances versus Barcelona and Arsenal.

Coach Enzo Maresca admitted that Chelsea no longer have the strength to maintain consistent form, as a congested schedule forced many key players to sit out, resulting in a 1-3 defeat to Leeds United.

According to Maresca, extensive squad rotation was the main reason for Chelsea’s decline. Wesley Fofana was excluded from the matchday squad, while captain Reece James was only on the bench and not used. The absence of key players significantly weakened Chelsea’s system, allowing Leeds to capitalize on opportunities.

At Elland Road, the home side played explosively. Leeds quickly took control and scored crucial goals through Jaka Bijol, Ao Tanaka, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Although Pedro Neto scored early in the second half to reduce the deficit, Chelsea could not mount a comeback due to a lack of cohesion and solidity across all three lines.

After the match, Maresca openly acknowledged that the squad situation left him no choice but to make personnel changes. He stated: "After performing well in two intense matches against Barcelona and Arsenal, you naturally expect a better display." Several players like Reece James and Wesley Fofana have just returned from injury and cannot play frequently without risking relapse, which could mean months out.

The Italian strategist emphasized that every time Chelsea changes the lineup, the quality drops. This is a reality the coaching staff must accept given the increasingly demanding fixture schedule. The Blues are striving to balance maintaining squad strength and protecting player fitness, but this clearly affects on-field results.

The defeat to Leeds serves as a warning for Chelsea in the long race. Without stabilizing the squad and deepening the team soon, Maresca’s side may face many challenges in the remaining season. However, with the gradual return of key players, The Blues’ fans still have reasons to hope for a strong recovery phase ahead.

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