Enzo Maresca names 3 players who “deserves Champions League” from his squad | OneFootball

Today is the day – Chelsea take on Manchester United in a thrilling penultimate game to an interesting season.

The Blues have it all to play for – they will need 6 points from their final 2 to make it into the Champions League. Man U are in a very different situation. They have nothing to play for in the league, and in fact are probably very keen to just have this season over this.

Palmer magic can still save the season

Cole Palmer stokes the ball around. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Enzo Maresca’s quotes before the game made it clear that, if his team want to get over the line, Cole Palmer can still have a huge role to play. We just need a sprinkle of his usual magic in the game today to get us 3 points, but his manager pointed out he didn’t necessarily have to score to help the team:

“You judge an important player if they are able to score or assist, but for instance against Liverpool, sure [Palmer’s] scored a last-minute penalty, but his performance was top in all aspects: sacrifice, desire, helping teammates,” Maresca said in quotes on the club’s official website..

“We are happy with that kind of performance from Cole. If he is able to score and assist, we are even happier. Cole’s desire is to be an important player in these last three games.”

Maresca’s chosen 3 to add to Palmer

“But Cole is not the only one who deserves Champions League,” the coach continued.

“Moi [Caicedo] is also a player who deserves Champions League, and Enzo Fernandez and Levi Colwill. This is the reason why we have been there and we are going to try to finish there, because we have many players in terms of status who deserve to play Champions League.”

It’s interesting to think about why he picked out those names – are they his choices for the best players of the season, or are they just the ones who came to mind?