Sports
Enzo Maresca Blames Transfer Speculation for Chelsea’s Mid-Season Slump
- Enzo Maresca blames transfer speculation for Chelsea’s mid-season struggles.
- Chelsea expect player movements in the final days of the January transfer window.
- Goalkeeping uncertainty persists as Robert Sanchez faces competition from Filip Jorgensen.
Enzo Maresca has stated that transfer speculation has “100 percent” played a role in Chelsea’s mid-season struggles, and he predicts there will be both departures and arrivals in the final days of the January transfer window.
Just weeks ago, Chelsea were only two points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, but after securing just one win in their past seven matches, they now find themselves 13 points adrift of the top.
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Several Chelsea players, including Axel Disasi, Cesare Casadei, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Joao Felix, and Christopher Nkunku, have been linked with moves, while Renato Veiga has already departed for Juventus on loan.
At his pre-match press conference ahead of Monday’s London derby against West Ham, Maresca was asked if the transfer rumours had disrupted his squad’s focus.
“Hundred percent for me,” Maresca replied. “But not only us, all teams because, in the end, players are human beings. Even if they say, ‘I’m professional, I’m focused on this,’ if they’re talking about you, about other clubs, probably the focus isn’t 100 percent. But this isn’t just about us.”
The Chelsea manager also expressed expectations of movement in the final hours of the transfer window, which closes at 23:00 GMT on Monday.
Chelsea, currently sitting just one point behind fourth-placed Manchester City, have been linked with potential moves for wingers like Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho and Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel.
“You can expect players to arrive, and you can expect players to leave, so it’s like this at the moment,” Maresca said. “I don’t have any idea about who will leave or who will arrive. Anything can happen.”
Maresca also addressed the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Chelsea’s goalkeeping situation, particularly after Robert Sanchez’s high-profile mistakes, including in last weekend’s 3-1 loss to Manchester City.
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“I made it clear at the start of the season that Robert was our number one,” Maresca said. “But we have two good goalkeepers, so we can make different decisions. It doesn’t mean Robert can make mistakes every game and still play. No. But at the start of the season, Robert was the number one.”
He added, “Any decision I make, I feel comfortable with, because every time Filip Jorgensen has played, he’s done well. So, whether it’s Filip or Robert, we’ll see, but any decision will be fine.”
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