Enzo Maresca Explains Exclusion of Trevoh Chalobah from Chelsea’s Pre-Season Squad
Chelsea’s new head coach Enzo Maresca has addressed the surprising decision to leave academy graduate Trevoh Chalobah out of the club’s pre-season tour of the United States. Chalobah, who had a strong end to the previous season after overcoming a long-term injury, found himself omitted from the squad set to play friendlies against Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Wrexham.
In his first pre-season press conference, Maresca explained the reasoning behind the decision, emphasizing the intense competition for places in Chelsea’s defense.
“First of all, from my point of view, it’s always sad to leave players out,” Maresca told reporters. “That can be out of a pre-season, or can be out of the squad or out of the first eleven because in the end they all work for the same target, that is to be part of the same team.”
Maresca elaborated on the depth of talent at his disposal, which contributed to Chalobah’s exclusion. “The Trevoh situation for me is quite clear, we have Axel [Disasi] there, we have Tosin [Adarabioyo] there, we have Wesley [Fofana] who in these two weeks has worked very good and is finally back, we have some very young profiles like Josh Acheampong who is doing fantastic. It’s a sad decision but we have to take the decision.”
Chalobah, as an academy graduate, represents pure profit for Chelsea, and his potential sale has been a topic of conversation for the past year. Despite his commitment to the club, this latest setback may spark interest from other teams. Chelsea reportedly values Chalobah at around £25 million. With four years remaining on his contract and a 12-month option, it remains to be seen whether any interested party will make a formal offer.
As for Chelsea’s pre-season tour, it kicks off with a game against Wrexham, owned by actor Ryan Reynolds, followed by a match against Scottish Premiership champions Celtic. The Blues will also face Manchester City – their opponents on the first day of the Premier League season – and 15-time Champions League winners Real Madrid before returning home to host Inter.
This decision highlights Maresca’s strategy and the competitive nature of Chelsea’s current squad, setting the stage for an intriguing pre-season and upcoming campaign.
