Enzo Maresca’s Dilemma: Ben Chilwell’s Future at Chelsea
It’s a chilly January morning, and the football world is buzzing with the latest revelations from Chelsea’s head coach, Enzo Maresca. The Italian tactician has opened up about his feelings of “shame” regarding the treatment of Ben Chilwell, a player who has been a significant part of Chelsea’s squad in recent years. However, Maresca has made it clear that Chilwell does not fit into his current plans for the team.
For those who might not be familiar, Ben Chilwell, now 28, has been a stalwart for Chelsea, making 70 Premier League appearances over four years before Maresca’s arrival. Yet, this season, Chilwell has only managed to feature once, and that was in the Carabao Cup. It’s a stark contrast to his previous contributions, and fans are left wondering what the future holds for the England international.
Maresca, who took the reins at Chelsea last summer, expressed his sympathy for Chilwell’s situation. “Because players want to play more so there’s probably chances for them to leave,” Maresca said. “But Ben has been top. I have to say that, he has been top. Very professional, works hard. I feel shame because of that situation but in terms of behaviour, he has been very good.”
When pressed on why Chilwell isn’t getting more game time, Maresca explained, “First of all because it is my choice. And because I can see Malo Gusto, Reece James or Marc Cucurella doing different kind of jobs during the game.” It’s clear that Maresca has a specific vision for his full-backs, one that doesn’t align with Chilwell’s traditional up-and-down style.
In the same news conference, Maresca elaborated on his tactical preferences, stating that he is “not a fan of full-backs going up and down.” This philosophy might explain why Chilwell, despite his proven track record, finds himself on the sidelines.
But Chilwell isn’t the only player facing uncertainty. Young defender Renato Veiga, 21, is reportedly linked with a move to Borussia Dortmund. The Portugal international joined Chelsea from FC Basel last summer but is said to be unhappy with his playing time and position, as Chelsea has been utilizing him at left-back rather than his preferred centre-back role.
Maresca addressed these rumors, saying, “I’m not aware that there is an agreement for Renato. Yesterday he was here working, today he will be working so he’s our player. We’ll see if something happens.” He added, “We bought Renato from Basel, he arrived and played well in different positions and allowed him to join the national team for the first time in his life. Even if he was not playing in his position [centre back], probably him playing for international team means the position he is playing he is doing well.”
Despite the challenges, Maresca expressed pride in his players’ achievements, particularly their involvement with national teams. “We are happy all players go to the international team, especially young players who join Chelsea, play in four or five different positions and gets the chance to play in the national team. We’re very proud of that.”
As Chelsea prepares to host Bournemouth on Tuesday night, the team is under pressure, having gone five Premier League matches without a win. The situation with Chilwell and Veiga adds another layer of complexity to Maresca’s tenure, and fans will be watching closely to see how these stories unfold.
- Ben Chilwell: 70 Premier League appearances for Chelsea before this season.
- Renato Veiga: Linked with a move to Borussia Dortmund.
- Chelsea: Without a win in five Premier League matches.
Originally Written by: ESPN
