Chelsea

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Enzo Maresca has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Conference League last-16 second leg against FC Copenhagen (20:00 GMT).

The Blues lead 2-1 from the first leg.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Maresca confirmed Cole Palmer, Reece James and Christopher Nkunku all trained today and are "back and better" after missing Tuesday's session with "some problems".

• Asked if an illness has gone through the squad, he replied: "Probably".

• The Chelsea boss said said Romeo Lavia is "much better" as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury while Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke "can be back after the international break".

• However, Malo Gusto remains sidelined after picking up an issue in the first leg.

• Maresca has yet to decide whether Robert Sanchez or Filip Jorgensen will start in goal but said: "They are both very good."

• On whether Palmer will bounce back from his penalty miss against Leicester: "Absolutely. Cole is going to miss more penalties. I don't have any doubt in the future he is going to miss more penalties but he is going to score more penalties. I don't think it affects him in a negative way."

• Maresca was "surprised" by the way Copenhagen set up for the first leg last week: "I watched many of their games and they played with a four but against us they played with five [in defence]. Then we tried to adapt. They changed completely the way they played. We don't know how they will play - we will find out tomorrow."

• On his team's style of play: "Off the ball the way we play is quite clear: we try to be aggressive. On the ball, we try to control the game. In this moment I think we are the second or third best attacking team in the Premier League. For sure, we can attack better and defend better."

• He insisted he is not thinking ahead to Sunday's visit to Emirates Stadium: "The priority is tomorrow because it is the next and most important one. After that, we start to think about Arsenal."

Follow all of Thursday's European news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Naturally this midweek is all about getting the job done in the Conference League but we are casting our vision a bit wider given there are 10 games to go in the Premier League.

When it comes to European football next season at Chelsea, we need your positivity.

It is looking likely the Premier League will be awarded an extra Champions League spot for the 2025-26 season, so finishing fifth will mean a seat at Europe's top table.

Therefore, we want you to tell us, in just one sentence, why Chelsea will qualify for the Champions League.

Let us know here

On the latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, The Athletic's Rory Smith discussed the frustration currently present among Chelsea's fan base.

"Part of it must be to do with deflation - it's only been two and a half months since they thought they were title contenders," said Smith.

"There is also a lot of simmering discontent around the way the club is being run. I'm not sure they trust the owners and there is scepticism about the model.

"It's not surprising to me that now they have hit a bumpy patch, it has laid bare quite a lot of dissatisfaction. It's not just about patchy form, it is deeper-running than that."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

The pundits on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club "have no doubt" Cole Palmer will be back to his renowned high-level form in no time.

Reflecting on what is going on with the Chelsea forward, former Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given said: "It shows he is human because his time at Chelsea has mainly been on an upward trajectory.

"He has gone through a bit of a dip, there is no way of getting away from that, and his confidence is low.

"It is a rough patch but I have no doubt that he will come back with vengeance because he is a brilliant player."

Listen to the Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds

Former Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given isn't keen on Enzo Maresca's constant rotation of first choice goalkeeper for Chelsea.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Given said: "I don't like the idea of chopping and changing your goalkeeper. [Filip] Jorgensen made one mistake against Aston Villa, played again in the next few games and then got dropped again [against Leicetser].

"He is well within his right to start a stretch of games because Sanchez has already made quite a few mistakes this season. It feels like Jorgensen made one mistake and is back out again. I suppose that's not ideal."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

Chelsea are preparing to step up their pursuit of Manchester United's England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, 19, as doubts grow over the long-term fitness of the Blues' Belgium midfielder Romeo Lavia, 21. (CaughtOffside), external

Ademola Lookman is expected to leave Atalanta this summer and the Nigeria forward, 27, is open to a Premier League return amid links with Chelsea and Arsenal. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Will Faulks
Fan writer

Image source, PA Media

Three wins in a row have not halted the growing signs of a culture war developing at Chelsea.

The first 45 minutes against Copenhagen on Thursday were being called the most boring the Blues had played in years - but the effort against Leicester just three days later ran them pretty close.

On Sunday, there were pretty severe grumbles from the Stamford Bridge crowd as the team left the field at half-time.

The problem is not that the players are not performing well - it is that this is a group of players doing exactly as they are instructed by their manager. Those instructions - to keep the ball at all costs and to take more risks in playing out from the back than they do in the final third - are coming in loud and clear from Enzo Maresca.

The head coach was defiant when asked in the news conference after the game about the groans around the stadium when Enzo Fernandez turned down a chance to move the ball forward quickly, instead electing to pass it backwards.

"Enzo knows if he doesn't play back, I will change him. If the goalkeeper plays long, I will change him," Maresca stated bluntly, essentially a direct message to the fans to suck it up.

That sets out his stall pretty clearly. What he wants is in direct opposition to what most supporters want to see. It is not impossible to get the crowd to back a team playing controlled football. Jose Mourinho did it. But he had the weight of unimpeachable results behind him. Maresca does not - yet.

The next three games are vital for the picture being built up of this season and Maresca's achievements. Nobody will mind how Chelsea play against Arsenal and Tottenham if they get six points.

But if you play results football and do not get the results, fans have every right to question what they are paying for.

Find more from Will Faulks at Chelsea News, external

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge and whether it's the team's job to get the crowd on side.

After Chelsea's 1-0 win over Leicester Enzo Maresca was asked whether the fans need to do more and he said: "We had that [support] absolutely, but we need it for the whole game."

Here are some of your comments:

Theo: This is as bad as any football I have watched at the Bridge. Slow, predictable and nervous. Maybe the team should give us something to cheer about before criticising the supporters.

Richard: The atmosphere won't improve until we see a more positive approach from the team. Previously, if I was going to be late for a game I would run to the ground to make sure I missed as little as possible. Now, together with the lack of connection to the current squad, I struggle to care whether we win or lose. The soul of the club has been destroyed.

Jerry: It's pretty difficult for fans to get excited when the team plays tediously dull football week in, week out with a manager who is increasingly looking like a one-trick pony and out of his depth. The players look about as excited about the prospect of playing as the fans feel watching them.

Peter: It's a chicken and egg situation regarding the atmosphere. Dull side to side passing yields a dull atmosphere. There is a noticeable improvement when the team attack.

Tom: I've been going to the Bridge since the 1990s. Outside of the big European nights it's always felt a bit doom and gloom. I look enviously at the atmosphere at Selhurst Park.

Kieran: Yes, absolutely dreadful. It must be so infuriating as a player to not get the necessary support when things are going poorly, which they are at the moment. How do you expect the players to improve and push harder without the support from the fans in the stadium?

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The topic of debate around Chelsea is increasingly whether the club has an atmosphere problem at Stamford Bridge.

Last season, Mauricio Pochettino repeatedly called on supporters to get behind the team as he endured poor form in home matches. Current manager Enzo Maresca has also been trying to tackle the issue all season - encouraging supporters subscribing to the club's official channels on an almost weekly basis to raise the atmosphere at their 41,000-seater stadium.

However, amid a poor run of form, the atmosphere has declined and both goalkeepers Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen have been derided for playing out from the back.

That has escalated to supporters jeering outfield players like midfielder Enzo Fernandez for passing it back to the goalkeeper.

Quizzed on whether players should listen to the fans or whether it is simply unhelpful, Maresca said: "The good thing is that Fernandez knows that if he doesn't play back, I will change him. If the 'keeper plays long, I will change him. This is what we have."

Chelsea's atmosphere at Stamford Bridge is more complex subject than simply blaming those in attendance for being bad fans.

They are no less passionate than other supporters but through their placement in London, they face a huge contingent of tourists. Some executives have told BBC Sport they estimate there is nearly a 25 per cent premium on ticketing across the stadium.

Tickets behind the bench, now called the 'Dugout Club', will pay up to £2,500 to sit behind the Chelsea players and coaches.

Of course, former owner Roman Abramovich had similar plans when trying to redevelop the stadium by increasing premium ticketing in such fashion.

But there is also a wider disconnect from supporters to the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital ownership as a result of a lack of success in their first two seasons. Fans have also not built the same bonds with the current group of players due to the pace of transfer activity since the £2.5 billion takeover in 2022.

There is also a unique issue at Chelsea in that the club is aware that their fans are the oldest in the Premier League. Firstly, they may simply not be as energetic or excited about watching a team that has been in decline and, secondly, they have seen teams that are better than the current one or at least more accessible in the old culture of English football.

Chelsea are in talks with fan groups about implementing a signing section as clubs like Manchester United have done to group the more hardcore supporters together.

The issue was highlighted after Marc Cucurella's goal against Leicester, Maresca gestured to the supporters to raise the volume.

When asked about the situation, the Italian coach said: "The target is to finish top four, top five and in a Champions League place. What the fans need to understand is that we need them. We need our 12th man because these players are giving everything. We need their support for 90 or 100 minutes."

Pressed on whether fans need to do more, Maresca added: "We had that [support] absolutely, but we need it for the whole game."

But the issue of a tepid home atmosphere can only be solved by Maresca if he delivers real success in terms of trophies

If not, it will require a whole club effort to enjoy the financial spoils of hospitality tickets while also retaining the volume inside the stadium.

What do you think?

Does Maresca have a point or is the team's job to get the crowd on side?

Tell us here

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Chelsea and Leicester City.

Here are some of your comments:

Chelsea fans

John: Someone should tell Enzo Maresca to have a plan B. He is wearing down the players with his play-from-the-back style. He plays a very boring game, with short passes and no counter attacks!

Stephen: Not really impressed by the quality of work. They didn't seem able to break Leicester down.

Richard: Once again we dominate a game and struggle to win by one goal! I'm not convinced Maresca is the right manager, but at the moment is there an alternative?

Nick: It doesn't say much for the Premier League if we are fourth. I can't remember when I last saw Chelsea play well. When Cole Palmer isn't playing well we are awful, which doesn't say much for the rest of them.

Steve: The media will paint this as a gutsy performance by Leicester, but the reality is that Chelsea don't have the character or the ability to put weaker teams away - which makes them look better than they really are. Doesn't bode well for the rest of the season when they will come up against far better teams. Arsenal will knock in four or five against this Chelsea side in the next game.

Leicester fans

Aiden: Now it is five games without a goal in the league. We cannot expect to win games let alone draw without scoring. It can't keep going like this. You'd think having one of the best strikers in Premier League history would lead to us working out how to score?

Nigel: Great penalty save, but we are still not quick enough on the ball. I can't see anyway out now. Tough games ahead. We should play some of the academy players because they can't do much worse.

Chris: What do I make of it? Exactly the same as the last three months - good in places but can't hold on to a clean sheet and can't score to save their lives. Relegation was likely in August, but sleep walking into it with this total inability to score will definitely see us down. The season is over. Lord knows where we go after this.

Lee: No passion or guile in the final third so another zero in the goal scored column. Ruud van Nistlerooy needs to make way and go now to give us a good start in the Championship next season.

Highlights and analysis from Sunday's three Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.

Listen back to the weekend's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Chelsea 1-0 Leicester City

• Manchester United 1-1 Arsenal

Chelsea are lining up an offer for 19-year-old Sunderland midfielder Jobe Bellingham. (Sun, via Metro), external

Chelsea and Barcelona have shown a concrete interest in signing 25-year-old Portugal winger Rafael Leao from AC Milan. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external

Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool have been keeping tabs on Inter Milan forward Marcus Thuram. (TBR Football), external

Deportivo La Coruna fear having to sell winger Yeremay Hernandez if they miss out on promotion to La Liga, as his release clause in the summer would be about 35 million euros (£29.4m). Chelsea were close to signing the 22-year-old in January. (AS - in Spanish), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "We needed to change the plan before the warm-up and this is why we are so happy because we adapted. Don't forget that Leicester against Arsenal for 80 minutes was 0-0. It's not easy. We created enough to be one goal ahead of them.

"The Leicester keeper is brilliant and Cole [Palmer] is going to score more penalties and miss more. He didn't feel well in the night. The people need to understand the effort he made to be there. Cole is a top player. Everything is normal now.

"We have two goalkeepers. The idea is not to change them. We changed in the past but hopefully not in the future.

"We won the game, we are happy. We still have 10 games to go. We are there."

Image source, Getty Images

It wasn't pretty, but it didn't need to be.

Chelsea moved back into the top four of the Premier League table with a narrow 1-0 win against Leicester City at Stamford Bridge.

Marc Cucurella's second-half strike was enough for the Blues to leapfrog Manchester City.

Enzo Maresca won't want to dwell too long on the performance, with the Blues proving unconvincing for long periods.

Cole Palmer's goalless run stretched to nine matches after he had a penalty saved by Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen midway through the first half.

The playmaker's last goal came in mid-January and he was taken off with 17 minutes remaining at Stamford Bridge.

With rivals Bournemouth and Manchester City dropping points this weekend, a win was all that mattered for Chelsea.

But they will likely have to improve the quality of their displays if they're to keep a spot in the top four.

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea goalscorer Marc Cucurella speaking to Sky Sports: "We know that we need to defend with everything and today the team showed a lot of passion.

"I think Enzo passed me the ball and I see that I have the option to shoot. Normally I wouldn't but I tried. We got the three points and we want to fight for the objectives.

"I'm really happy. I think it's a long process, I needed to work really hard in my bad moments. Maybe something I need to improve is being more clinical in the final third.

"In the last minute we showed energy and the fans helped us in our tough moments when we're a bit tired. We defend the same club and we need to stay together. The support is very important when things go not well."

Image source, Getty Images

Cole Palmer extended his goal drought in the Premier League to seven games and 683 minutes, with the forward's five shots against Leicester meaning he has had 29 shots since last finding the net against Bournemouth in January.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Chelsea's performance

What did you make of Leicester's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

There are three Premier League matches on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Tottenham v Bournemouth - Listen and follow the action here

• Chelsea v Leicester City - Listen and follow the action here

• Manchester United v Arsenal (16:30) - Listen and follow the action here

Kick-off times 14:00 GMT unless stated

After beating Southampton last time out, this feels like another 'gimme' for Chelsea, and just when they needed it.

With the two teams immediately above them, Nottingham Forest and Manchester City, playing each other on Saturday, Chelsea could end up as high as third if they win this and, let's face it, they are very likely to take the three points.

I am sure Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca will say lots of nice things about his former club but he will be absolutely desperate to pump them here.

I think they will win easily, too. I feel sorry for Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy because he has been dealt a terrible hand, and in the background there is frustration from the Foxes fans about the running of the club.

It feels like there was muddled thinking from the club's owners to appoint Van Nistelrooy, based on the fact he had beaten them while he was in caretaker charge of Manchester United.

Lots of managers could have got the job if that was the criteria. I would even have fancied my Lincoln City team from a few years back to have beaten Leicester this season so I could have ended up manager there.

I guess that shows any unhappy fans that things could always be worse.

Sutton's prediction: 3-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here