Enzo Maresca, the Chelsea manager, has openly acknowledged a critical miscalculation in his team selection during their recent defeat against Leeds United – a decision that could very well influence his strategy for the upcoming match against Bournemouth.
Just weeks prior, Chelsea had surged with confidence, delivering a stunning 3-0 victory over Barcelona and securing a hard-fought 1-1 draw against league-leading Arsenal, fueling whispers of a potential title challenge. That momentum, however, shattered at Elland Road with a sobering 3-1 loss to a team fighting for its Premier League survival.
Maresca faced immediate scrutiny for his defensive reshuffle, opting to bench key players Wesley Fofana and Reece James while repositioning Trevoh Chalobah. The new defensive pairing of Tosin Adarabioyo and Benoit Badiashile struggled, culminating in Badiashile’s halftime substitution and, ultimately, a costly error leading to Leeds’ third goal.
In a candid pre-match press conference, Maresca confessed his regret over one particular omission: young forward Josh Acheampong. He explained the initial reasoning behind the lineup was to counter Leeds’ direct, aerial approach, believing physicality would be key to winning those battles.
“We preferred physicality to win aerial duels,” Maresca stated, “But even with that, we lost most of them.” The decision to prioritize that physicality, however, came at the expense of Acheampong’s inclusion, a choice the manager now questions.
Acheampong, despite his youth, has shown promise in his nine appearances this season, earning five starting spots. Yet, he hasn’t seen Premier League action since a loss to Sunderland in October, leaving many to wonder about his potential.
Maresca hinted at a possible change in approach for the Bournemouth game, suggesting a similar intensity to the Leeds match. This could open the door for Acheampong to finally receive another opportunity to prove his worth.
The manager was quick to dismiss suggestions that inexperience was the root cause of the Leeds defeat. He pointedly noted that experience wasn’t a talking point during their successes against Barcelona and Arsenal.
“When we don’t win, we are always looking for the reason why,” Maresca asserted. “But the reason we didn’t win against Leeds is not because of the experience, it’s because we were not good enough.” He emphasized that even his most experienced player on the pitch, Tosin Adarabioyo, had a subpar performance.
Maresca’s assessment was blunt: the entire team underperformed. He acknowledged the constant search for explanations when results falter, but firmly believes the issue wasn’t a lack of experience, but a collective failure to meet the required standard.
