Chelsea: Alejandro Garnacho included but one summer signing misses out on Champions League squad | OneFootball

Blues’ most recent recruit misses out on 23-man squad

Your matchday briefing on Chelsea, featuring team news and expert analysis from Dom Smith

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Alejandro Garnacho has been named in Chelsea’s Champions League squad for the upcoming European campaign.

Last year’s Conference League winners step back up into Europe’s elite competition, where Enzo Maresca has had to make some tricky decisions when it comes to his squad.

All Champions League squads must include eight ‘locally trained’ players, who must have been registered with a club for three entire seasons between the ages of 15 and 21.

Maresca has named a 23-strong squad - with clubs capped at a maximum of 25.

There is one big omission, and Chelsea’s most recent summer signing, Facundo Buonanotte, who joined the Blues on loan from Brighton.

On that list are Romeo Lavia, Tyrique George, and defender Josh Acheampong.

Other notable absentees are members of the Blues’ so-called ‘bomb squad’, Axel Disasi, David Datro Fofana, and Raheem Sterling, all of whom were linked with moves away from the club during the summer transfer window, but those exits never materialised.

Fofana saw a loan move to Charlton collapse, while Disasi and Sterling were linked with West Ham, Bournemouth, and Fulham respectively.

Reserve goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina does not make the cut, and nor does Mykhailo Mudryk, who remains suspended.

Bayern Munich and Barcelona are Chelsea’s most notable opponents in their eight league phase games, with the Blues travelling to the Allianz Arena in their opening game in a rematch of the 2012 Champions League final.

They host Benfica next, before a home encounter with Ajax.

Maresca’s side then travel to Qarabag before hosting Barca in November, and trips to Atalanta and Napoli sandwich a home fixture against Pafos.

Confirmed Chelsea Champions League squad: Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen; Marc Cucurella, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Levi Colwill, Jorrel Hato, Trevoh Chalobah, Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Reece James; Enzo Fernandez, Cole Palmer, Jamie Gittens, Dario Essugo, Andrey Santos, Moises Caicedo; Pedro Neto, Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Marc Guiu, Estevao, Alejandro Garnacho.