‘There are not so many players’ – Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca outlines how he plans to use raft of attacking players amid criticism of transfer strategy

Enzo Maresca insisted that Chelsea do not have “many players” and went on to reveal the preferred position of each of his forwards.

• WHAT MARESCA SAID

  Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s clash with West Ham, Maresca clarified: “As left-wingers, we have Jadon and Misha [Mudryk]. As right-wingers, we have Noni and Pedro. As attacking midfielders, we have Joao Felix and Cole. As a No9, we have Nicolas, Christo and Marc. We do not have so many players, we have two players for each position.”

  He added: “Christo can play as a No.9 or as an attacking midfielder and a winger. Kiernan [Dewsbury-Hall] can play in the pocket and wide. Pedro was playing as a left-winger because Jadon wasn’t here and fit and, between Misha, Pedro and Jadon, I preferred Pedro for that one game… but that doesn’t mean always I will prefer Pedro. So the squad is quite clear in terms of positions. All of them have their position and we have two players in each position. But because they are versatile, good and can play in different positions, for sure we can move them. For example, Christo played the first game against Manchester City as a winger.”

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Chelsea fans witnessed Maresca making the most of the squad depth in their slender 1-0 win over Bournemouth. The manager started the match with Neto, Palmer, Madueke and Jackson but brought on Felix, Sancho and Nkunku in the second half to change the complexion of the match. And he stood vindicated as Sancho and Nkunku combined to score the winner late inside regulation time.
• GOAL

  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

  With the London derby against West Ham just around the corner, fans are eager to see how Maresca will set up his attacking options. Jackson, who has started all of Chelsea’s first four Premier League matches this season and has scored two goals along with an assist, appears likely to lead the line once again. Sancho might be handed a start with Palmer and Nkunku joining him in attack.

• Getty Images Sport

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  This massive influx of talent in the attacking third has raised eyebrows as Maresca might find himself having a problem of plenty. However, the manager is not concerned and revealed that the strategy was to have at least two players in each attacking position.

   

  Source goal.com