Enzo Maresca discussed his options in midfield for tomorrow evening’s trip to Leeds United, in the absence of the suspended Moises Caicedo, with Reece James and Andrey Santos among the candidates to line-up at Elland Road.
An old rivalry is resumed as we travel to Yorkshire in the Premier League to take on newly promoted Leeds. It is always a hotly contested fixture whenever the two clubs meet, with a history of fierce encounters going back to the 1960s and our epic victory in the 1970 FA Cup final.
Maresca would surely love to be able to call upon Caicedo for this game but, due to his suspension following a red card in our last game against Arsenal, the Ecuadorian will be absent from our matchday squad for the first time this season.
It will be only the third occasion since Maresca became Chelsea head coach that our starting line-up for a Premier League match has not included Caicedo, although the Italian is confident we can compensate for his absence in midfield, just as we have done when key players are missing in other areas of the pitch.
‘For sure, again, we are a better team with Cole [Palmer], we are a better team with Moi, we are a better team with Levi [Colwill],’ said Enzo. ‘But when these players are not available we try to find a solution.
‘We did the same thing with Levi, we did the same thing when Cole was out, and now we have to do something different because of Moi.’
One of those potential solutions could be Andrey Santos, who impressed when filling in for Caicedo in the 2-0 win at Burnley, being voted as Player of the Match by the Chelsea supporters for his performance alongside Enzo Fernandez that day.
The 21-year-old has shown steady improvement as he adapts to life in England and the Premier League since returning from a successful loan spell at Strasbourg in the summer, and Maresca would have no fears turning to the Brazilian in that role again.
‘Andrey is ready,’ insisted the Blues head coach. ‘His position, once again, is playing as a six, like Moi’s position, but he’s ready.
‘We have more options. We have also Reece, who can play in different positions. I think one that can play well in that position is Josh [Acheampong], but we will see.’
It is unsurprising that James is also in consideration to feature in midfield at Leeds, given the brilliant performance he put in there in the 1-1 draw with Premier League leaders Arsenal on Sunday.
However, Maresca admitted two games in four days might still be a risk for our skipper on this occasion, and if Reece were to start again at Elland Road, it could equally be at right-back rather than midfield he is used.
‘It’s complicated. I would like to start him, but we need to do the right thing,’ explained Maresca, when questioned on James’ chances of starting against Leeds, and in what role that might be.
‘I think he can play in both positions. He has been a full-back all his life, he has also played as a midfielder, but I think he can be good in both positions.
‘When we decide for him as a midfielder, most of the time it is when we want the physicality in midfield, when we face teams that are strong in the middle. So it depends a little bit on the game plan, but he is doing very well in both positions.’
Plenty for Maresca to think about between now and tomorrow’s 8.15pm kick-off at Elland Road then, as he selects his starting line-up to resume hostilities against old rivals Leeds United in the Premier League.