Chelsea boss Maresca wary of artificial pitch and injury risk for Djurgarden semi-final | OneFootball

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has urged his players to stay locked in on the task at hand as they prepare to face Djurgarden in the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final on Thursday.

The Blues are in Stockholm aiming to take control of the tie before the return leg at Stamford Bridge next week.

Maresca, who won the UEFA Cup as a player, said his experience in Europe taught him the value of approaching each knockout round with complete focus.

He warned against complacency, pointing to the club’s 2-1 defeat in their quarter-final second leg against Legia Warsaw as a reminder of what can happen when intensity drops.

Chelsea have since gone five matches unbeaten in the Premier League, but Maresca dismissed the idea of rotating his side to preserve players for Sunday’s clash with Liverpool.

“This is a semi-final,” he said. “There are no excuses.”

He admitted concerns about the artificial pitch at the Tele2 Arena, especially given its unfamiliarity and potential to cause injuries, but said it would not change the team’s approach.

Djurgarden, the first Swedish side to reach a European semi-final in nearly four decades, have rotated their squad between domestic and continental fixtures.

Maresca said he had watched six of their recent matches to understand their patterns and personnel.

He confirmed academy prospect Genesis Antwi has been training with the first team and could be involved, while the decision on who starts up front — Nicolas Jackson, Tyrique George or Pedro Neto — will be made based on who is best suited for the job on the night.

“We take each game seriously,” he said. “That’s the only way to build a winning culture.”

Maresca pushed back on suggestions Chelsea are overwhelming favourites due to the gulf in resources.

“You do not win titles with money,” he said. “You have to spend it in the right way, but that alone is not enough.”

He added that lifting the Conference League would be a significant achievement, not least because it would complete Chelsea’s set of major European trophies.

“For the players and for me, it is a responsibility,” Maresca said. “This is a big title.”

He expects full commitment — and a response worthy of a team aiming to make history.