Enzo Maresca denies embarrassing struggling player with team decision | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca was in a tricky position for today’s game against Nottingham Forest because of injured and unfit players.

He then made 3 changes at half time. In his press conference after the game he was asked about those decisions, and had some interesting things to say.

Maresca explains Lavia sub at half time

Romeo Lavia arrives at Craven Cottage. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Romeo Lavia was especially poor in the first half, where Chelsea couldn’t progress the ball at all. After half time, the Belgian didn’t emerge, and Moises Caicedo’s rest was cut short to give the team some midfield strength. It was assumed that Maresca had hauled off Lavia for a bad performances, but after the game he claimed it was all planned, and that each midfielder was only ready for 45 minutes:

“I always try to do my best. Sometimes I’m wrong, sometimes I’m right. But in this moment, it’s more about protecting players. We already knew that Romeo [Lavia] was not going to play 90 minutes,” the coach said of his starting lineup and sub decisions.

“Romeo’s plan was 45 minutes. Moi [Caicedo] cannot play 90 minutes, so the decision was to start with Moi or start with Romeo. And Romeo needs confidence, he needs a boost, he needs to start the game. So that was the plan. Then Garna [Garnacho] did a fantastic game against Liverpool. So it was good to give him again the chance.”

Maresca needs midfielders at their best to take pressure off

Whether it’s true or just an excuse doesn’t really matter. We need Lavia playing well, well enough that Caicedo can get a full 90 minutes break. We can’t be getting bailed out game by game by the one man Ecuadorian army. The likes of Andrey Santos (also taken off after 45 minutes) and Lavia simply have to raise their game.