Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has provided some revealing hints about his likely starting lineup against Newcastle on Sunday, based on his recent player choices during Chelsea’s Europa Conference League match against Panathinaikos.
In that game, Chelsea secured an impressive 4-1 win away, continuing their unbeaten streak in the group stages.
With notable performances by key players, the decisions Maresca made in this match could give a clear view of who might feature in his starting lineup for the upcoming Premier League clash.
During the Panathinaikos game, Joao Felix shone by scoring twice, Christopher Nkunku netted a penalty, and Mykhailo Mudryk added a well-placed header, demonstrating solid form.
Maresca opted to field his “second string XI” for this game, a common strategy he employs for cup matches to keep his primary lineup rested for the league.
This approach suggests that he’ll likely revert to his “best XI” for Sunday’s game, though his choices in Greece appear to indicate which players will likely start against Newcastle.
One significant takeaway from this match is that Romeo Lavia might start over Enzo Fernandez in the midfield on Sunday.
Fernandez was in the starting lineup against Panathinaikos, a shift from the previous league game against Liverpool, where Lavia had taken his place.
This substitution indicates that Maresca is potentially setting up to start Lavia again against Newcastle, with Fernandez stepping in as a rotation option.
Additionally, the right-back position seems to be more certain.
Malo Gusto, Chelsea’s first-choice right-back, didn’t travel to Greece, but his absence wasn’t due to injury.
Marc Cucurella filled in and played the entire game, while Gusto had started in Chelsea’s previous league game against Liverpool.
Maresca’s choice to rest Gusto for the Panathinaikos game suggests that he’s likely saving him for a full return in Sunday’s starting XI against Newcastle.
Based on the lineup and player rotation in Greece, Maresca’s starting XI against Newcastle could look something like this: Sanchez in goal; a backline consisting of James, Fofana, Colwill, and Gusto; Caicedo and Lavia in midfield; Palmer, Sancho, Madueke, and Jackson forming the attack.
There had been some calls for Pedro Neto to secure a starting spot due to his recent performances.
However, Neto was also part of the Panathinaikos lineup, which implies he may only be on the bench for the Newcastle game, as Maresca seems inclined to rotate his players based on match significance and upcoming league commitments.
Overall, Maresca’s tactical approach this season appears to focus on managing player fitness and form, using strategic rotations in cup games to keep his main squad fresh and competitive in the Premier League.
As Chelsea’s game against Newcastle approaches, fans and analysts are keen to see how these choices will impact Chelsea’s performance in what promises to be a challenging fixture.
The Blues face a Newcastle team known for their defensive strength and counter-attacking ability, so Maresca’s lineup will be crucial in ensuring Chelsea is set up to handle Newcastle’s threats and maintain their push in the league.
