Changes in personnel but not mood

Enzo Maresca is in a good place at Chelsea but his mood has never waivered in these press conferences so far.

When the Blues had four points from three matches and news broke of a rift between the owners – his mood was the same and so was his desire to focus on improving his team.

Now, amid a moment of calm and good results, he isn’t getting carried away and remains assured that his approach to management will ultimately lead to even better results.

The clarity of the Italian’s communication is impressive given he has never had a job at this level and is speaking in his second or potentially third language.

Of course, a match at home to Barrow in the Carabao Cup should be a certain victory but it was interesting to see him discuss the various players in his squad who are keen to earn minutes.

Defender Ben Chilwell will come back in to make his first appearances of the campaign after being in the ‘loan group’ and told he was surplus to requirements.

Similarly, Carney Chukwuemeka could also be involved while fringe players Mykhailo Mudryk, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Benoit Badiashile were also mentioned.

It would be unsurprising if Maresca makes 11 changes from the team that beat West Ham 3-0 on Saturday as a busy period with two matches per week begins.