Chelsea’s Maresca to Rotate Squad in Club World Cup Clash

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is planning to rotate his squad for Friday’s crucial Group D match against Flamengo at the Club World Cup, citing the challenges posed by summer heat and a long season.

With the game expected to determine the group’s top team ahead of the knockout rounds, Maresca revealed that he has adjusted the team’s training sessions to ensure the players remain competitive.

“The temperature makes it tough,” Maresca said at a press conference on Thursday. “We’re going to try to rotate players.

Unfortunately for us, the Brazilian team is more accustomed to playing in this kind of heat. But it doesn’t matter. We’ll try to do our best and win the game. We need to rotate three, four, or five players each game. It’s impossible for players to be at 100% for 11 months straight.”

To mitigate the effects of fatigue, Maresca has reduced the intensity and duration of training sessions, focusing on tactical aspects rather than physical conditioning.

Chelsea resumed training for the tournament shortly after winning the Europa Conference League title on May 28, following the conclusion of their Premier League campaign.

“This feels like pre-season because we had some days off after the Premier League and then started again,” Maresca explained. “But it’s not pre-season; it’s a big competition. We’re here to win games and go as far as possible.”

The Italian manager also expressed his support for forward Mykhailo Mudryk, who was recently charged with an anti-doping rule violation by England’s FA.

“Misha is a Chelsea player, and I trust all Chelsea players,” he said. “I haven’t spoken to him recently, but the last time I did, he seemed fine. Until I have more information, there’s not much I can add.”

Chelsea and Flamengo are currently tied at the top of Group D, each with three points after winning their opening matches 2-0 against LAFC and Esperance de Tunis, respectively.

PUNCH