Enzo Maresca almost admitted to his mistake of exiling Ben Chilwell as the Chelsea vice-captain is set for a new lease of life at Stamford Bridge.
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Chilwell was asked to find a new club in the summerThe full-back was even barred from first team trainingWas brought back into action against BarrowFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Chilwell had been out of favour during the pre-season, with Maresca reportedly encouraging him to seek a new club. The defender was relegated to what was dubbed a "bomb squad," a group of high-profile players considered surplus to the team’s needs.
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On Tuesday night, Chilwell made his long-awaited return to competitive action for Chelsea during their 5-0 Carabao Cup demolition of Barrow at Stamford Bridge. Starting the match on the bench, the 27-year-old was introduced at halftime, replacing Malo Gusto. He put in an impressive shift and is now primed for some more action over the weekend in the Premier League.
WHAT MARESCA SAID
When asked if Chilwell would feature more regularly moving forward, Maresca stated: "Yes, at the moment we need him, why not? I said already many times and I will say again that, as long as Chilly is with us, he is a Chelsea player. And if we need him, we give him a chance and minutes."
The answer was followed up with another question which asked if the manager regretted instructing Chilwell to look for a new club. He replied: "We all make mistakes. Probably yes; probably no. I am here to make decisions. Sometimes they are good decisions and sometimes they are not good. The only thing I can say is that there is not any bad intention from me. It is just to see things and try to think about the best things for the club."
AFPWHAT NEXT FOR CHILWELL?
Maresca’s change of heart reflects his willingness to reassess his earlier decisions, especially as the team continues to navigate a gruelling schedule across multiple competitions. Now, it remains to be seen if Maresca walks the talk and hands an opportunity to Chilwell against Brighton at Stamford Bridge this Saturday.