3 hours ago
2
Enzo Maresca has provided an update on Pedro Neto ahead of Chelsea's clash against Qarabag in the UEFA Champions League. The Blues will be without the 25-year-old winger when they take on the Azerbaijani outfit at the Tofik Bahramov Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Neto was absent from training on Tuesday morning. The Portugal international was replaced by Estevao Willian in the final minutes of Chelsea's 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday night.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the west London outfit's 5000-mile round trip to Baku, Maresca announced that the Portugal international had suffered a minor injury. He said: "Not a problem, just a small issue. We will try to protect him. He is not involved in tomorrow's game."
Maresca has one eye on Chelsea's clash against Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday night, and he plans to rotate the starting lineup. He said: "It's an important game because it can give us three wins in a row in the Champions League.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
"For sure, we need to rotate some of the players because I think we come back in London at 6am on Friday and then we have a game on Saturday. We will try to adapt and do our best."
Maresca also provided an update on Cole Palmer, who's been nursing a groin injury this season. The Chelsea midfielder was raced back from the treatment room in September, only to aggravate the problem a week later.
On whether Palmer could return to face Barcelona in the Champions League later this month, Maresca said: "We hope so [he returns for Barcelona clash] but with Cole, we try to schedule the beginning and then we need to review that.
"We go day by day with Cole. He is not taking any sessions with the team. We have Benoit Badiashile that can probably be available after the international break and for us, that is huge news."
MORE TO FOLLOW...
We'll bring you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story. For the latest news and breaking news, visit football.london. Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you for the capital's clubs.
Shining a light on the issues fans really want to know about and providing rolling coverage of the latest news, football.london's writers give you the bigger picture on your club by knowing the little details inside-out.
Follow us on X @Football_LDN - for the all latest news as it happens in real time. Sign up for one of football.london's free daily and weekly newsletters on your club by clicking here.
Want to keep up to date with the breaking and important Chelsea stories whilst on the move? Well now you can!
Click this link to follow the football.london Chelsea WhatsApp channel, where you'll be kept up to date on the latest Blues news wherever you are.
Just remember to turn on the notifications once you've followed, and you won't miss a beat!
English (US) ·