Enzo Maresca details exactly why he expects Bournemouth clash to be a “tough game” | OneFootball

Chelsea return to Premier League action against Bournemouth on Tuesday night and Enzo Maresca has explained why he’s expecting a tough game.

The Blues returned to winning ways in the FA Cup with a 5-0 victory against Morecambe on Saturday, but their form in the league hasn’t been good in recent weeks.

Chelsea are currently on a four game winless run, which has seen them draw against Everton and Crystal Palace, and lose to Fulham and Ipswich.

Maresca on the strengths of Bournemouth

Chelsea’s good start to the season had seen them build up a reasonable gap to fifth place, but that’s all but gone with Newcastle now just one point behind.

Bournemouth are the visitors to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday in what is sure to be a tough task with the Cherries sitting seventh, just three points behind Chelsea.

Maresca’s men won the reverse fixture 1-0 thanks to a late Christopher Nkunku goal, which was set up by Jadon Sancho, who put in a man of the match performance on his debut.

Nkunku scored the winner as Chelsea beat Bournemouth earlier in the season. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)

Bournemouth are missing both their strikers through injury, which could make Chelsea’s task easier, but Maresca made it clear Andoni Iraola’s side shouldn’t be taken lightly.

“More or less a similar one in terms of they are intense,” Maresca told his pre-match press conference when asked what kind of game he was expecting.

“It is quite clear what they want to do on and off the ball. On the ball, they are quite direct and have players up front that are very strong, physically and they are quick.

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“Off the ball, they are intense, they are most of the time on the opposite side man-to-man. It will be a tough game.”

Chelsea will have Moises Caciedo available after he missed the FA Cup win on Saturday, whilst Reece James and Romeo Lavia are both ready to start after playing 45 minutes against Morecambe.