Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has reacted to the wholesale changes made to his starting lineup for tonight’s EFL Cup match against Cardiff City. As earlier reported by SoftFootball, the Blues’ lineup features several new faces compared to the side that secured a 2–0 victory over Everton.
Speaking in a video shared by Sky Sports on X, Maresca addressed questions from a journalist about balancing the demands of a congested fixture schedule with the need to overcome Cardiff City, these were his statements;
First of all, it’s tonight’s target that it’s important to win the game. So prepare the right team, a balanced team that is good to attack. It can defend the first thing. And then also, at the same time, we need to recover some players, some energy, because then we go again in two days and then we go again.
The 33-second video clip shared by Sky Sports highlights Maresca’s focus on squad balance, energy management, and maintaining competitiveness despite rotation, watch below;
While Chelsea head into the contest as clear favorites, the Blues will be wary of complacency. Recent cup upsets including their 2–1 defeat to Atalanta, serve as a reminder that rotation can bring risks if focus drops. SoftFootball will continue to monitor the match and provide full updates across its platforms as the game unfolds.
