Chelsea

Tom Mallows
BBC Sport journalist

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Another busy summer transfer window means new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal, but he has been given an early indication of how tough it will be to keep all of his players happy.

The build-up to Sunday's defeat against Manchester City was overshadowed by a statement from Raheem Sterling's representatives calling for "clarity" on his position after being left out of the matchday squad.

As well as the players who are not playing, Maresca also has to try and form a coherent side with those that do.

The Italian did not start any of his new 11 summer signings but brought four on - only the second time a Premier League side has given out as many as four debuts in one match.

Of those four Pedro Neto had the greatest impact, but it is going to take time for all the new faces to settle in.

Chelsea fans may have to be patient and wait a while before they see a return on the club's significant investment.

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Enzo Maresca spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Chelsea's defeat to Manchester City: "The performance was good and we competed against the best team in the world. We played well and created chances. The biggest difference was inside the box and how they managed the ball at the end, they are a master. We don't like to lose games but the performance was good.

"We can for sure improve many things, we've been together for just six weeks. At the same moment, we liked to analyse the game and we tried to play football and create chances. It's not easy but we did well.

"It's always tough because many of them deserve to play from the start. We have another game soon so they have chances to play for sure.

On Sterling's omission, Maresca said: "I didn't see anything because I was focused on the game. It was a tactical decision and nothing more than that.

On Manchester City: "You can see since day one that they continue in the same way. They are a master in everything and they'll continue in this same way."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

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

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A new season, and a new challenge for BBC Sport's prediction expert Chris Sutton.

Sutton faced off against a guest for each of the 38 game weeks in 2023-24 and triumphed 21-10 (with seven draws) to secure his second predictions title in a row.

In the first week of the new season, his opponent is The Courteeners frontman Liam Fray.

The pair have both given their prediction for Chelsea v Manchester City on Sunday.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Several of Manchester City's stars won't play at all, because they only returned to training this week, but the likes of Kevin de Bruyne and Bernardo Silva will be able to play more minutes after featuring as late substitutes in the Community Shield.

I have no idea what to expect from Chelsea, and I don't even know what the club is trying to do any more.

Is their priority to build a team to win trophies, or is there some other business strategy going on?

Chelsea have got some talented players and Cole Palmer will have a say again against his former club, but I still think City will find a way to win it.

Liam's prediction: 0-2

It pains me to say it, but I can't see anything other than another City victory. They are just so strong.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca came across very relaxed and happy despite facing some awkward questions from the media on Friday.

The Italian has been a good communicator since coming in, with a complete mastery of the English language after his playing days at West Bromwich Albion and spells at West Ham, Manchester City and Leicester.

There is also an authenticity and an unwillingness to avoid difficult questions.

But as Chelsea's project continues to face criticism for stockpiling players and their disruptive approach to transfer activity - he is clearly willing to toe the party line.

That is Maresca as he starts the season, in the honeymoon period and without a body of work to be scrutinised.

Let's see how this season develops as he either thrives on the challenging role - that has seen Chelsea have five managers since this new ownership took over - or struggles in an often chaotic environment.

Chelsea have more the 50 first-team players either at the club or out on loan, which former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown says is a "problem".

He tells The Football News Show why around 18 senior players is best, and the challenges Enzo Maresca faces keeping his squad happy and engaged during training sessions.

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

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Who knows what is happening there [at Chelsea]. They are a bonkers football club at the moment in terms of their recruitment and the length of the deals they are handing out.

Their squad is already gigantic and it looks like there are more signings to come - there is talk of a different player joining every day at the moment.

It feels like a really crazy strategy, and I don't understand what they are trying to do. Maybe they will prove me wrong, but I don’t see it getting them into the top four.

Read more from Shearer on the upcoming Premier League season

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Chelsea boss Enzo Marseca has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Manchester City (kick-off 16:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Reece James and Conor Gallagher are the only players that are unavailable for Sunday's game.

• Maresca confirmed Gallagher is training away from the group after issues with his move to Atletico Madrid and is "trying to find a solution with the club".

• On how this situation has unfolded, Maresca said: "Unfortunately these things happen every summer as all clubs can have problems. Hopefully for him this situation will finish where the player, club and manager will be happy."

• Maresca is hopeful they can being in some more players before the transfer window closes, but did not comment specifically on links to Joao Felix nor Victor Osimhen.

• On Chelsea's large squad: "At the moment, if I start to think I have 43 players, it is not a good thing. Paul and Laurence [Winstanley and Stewart, sporting directors] are in charge of finding solutions for these players, not me."

• New signing Pedro Neto "is completely fit" but "has only been here for two or three days and needs to understand the way we want to play".

• Maresca said starting the season against reigning champions Manchester City "is tough but exciting". He added: "The big difference between us, in this moment, and other teams is that it is just a matter of time. Some clubs work with a manager for eight years, so with time we will close the gap and hopefully that can happen soon."

• He called for supporters to stick with the team and "be patient" because in time "we will pay them back with performance and results".

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Enzo Maresca will conduct his first news conference in London after being appointed Chelsea manager two months ago.

It is an unusual state of affairs but the new manager, who joined in a £10m deal from Leicester City, saw his initial unveiling cancelled over concerns that questions about Enzo Fernandez could overshadow what is normally a celebration for a new coach.

Maresca will be speaking before Sunday's match against his former employers Manchester City, where he acted as Pep Guardiola's assistant and built his reputation.

For many in the media who were not on the club's US tour, this will be their first chance to meet the Italian and learn more about his temperament.

But he will face questions about the club's treatment of Conor Gallagher.

The England midfielder is in limbo after his £33m move to Atletico Madrid stalled after the Blues' deal for striker Samu Omorodion coming the other way collapsed.

The Spanish side must raise funds to buy Gallagher, who was pictured in their stadium last weekend, but for now he is back at Cobham training ground.

There is also the question about the stockpiling of players more generally, with Chelsea having about 55 players on their books.

All the key lines from Maresca will be on this page later, and go to our live page for the best of the quotes from all of Friday's Premier League news conferences

On Thursday, Nizaar Kinsella, who will be covering Chelsea for the BBC this season, asked if the Blues will click under Enzo Maresca this season.

Here are some of your answers:

Steve: Another season of chaos looms. Can't see any signs of logic in the signings or the choice of manager. Hope I'm wrong about this!

Phil: Based on pre-season it seems a big "if". That being said so many players in interviews claim they are all buying into the system. Up front, assuming everyone stays fit, it looks like we have the creativity and ability to create and score goals. Playing out from the back could be our Achilles heel, but if it clicks then who knows.

Ben: At the end of last season, they looked like it was coming together. Then the board go and buy any player under 25. Sack a manager who was just getting the team trending the right way. Hire a guy with zero top-flight experience. I’d be surprised if Chelsea make the top 10. Shambolic ownership causing the destruction of my beloved club.

Paulo: It could work, but that depends on the manager and tactics employed, especially in squad selection and instructions. With owners' input, anything can happen as they seem to be more inclined to business model rather than competitive approach...

Harry: I had faith in Pochettino throughout last season and I have faith in Maresca this season. We had a poor pre-season but some good displays. We need a huge squad clearout though and I hope to see Victor Osimhen and Joao Felix in blue. If that happens I can see Chelsea pushing for top four and competing for silverware.

Pappy: I believe we are even less prepared for the season ahead than last season. I don’t believe we have the calibre of players to be able to play out from the back. We've needed a big striker since Costa left and haven’t filled that position. Look for a Championship striker as it looks like we may well be heading there?

Chelsea have set an asking price of £60m for any clubs interested in signing winger Noni Madueke. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Paris St-Germain are set to beat Chelsea to the signing of Rennes’ France Under-23 midfielder Desire Doue. (ESPN), external

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid would like to complete the sale of 24-year-old Portugal forward Joao Felix to Chelsea and sign Conor Gallagher by Wednesday. (AS - in Spanish), external

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

On the latest episode of the BBC's Planet Premier League podcast, former Chelsea midfielder Emmanuel Petit spoke about Chelsea's large first-team squad.

The former France international said: "Competition to earn your place in the first XI is very important for the ambition of the team and the players. But if you get so many players, 45 players, this is nonsense for me.

"Stability is very difficult to get in the dressing room before going on the pitch. The relationship between the players won't be the same because nobody knows who is going to play the next game.

"So when you work with a huge group like that, it's a lot of trouble for the manager and the staff and the players. You don't have the same link between the players.

"I'm going to ask a simple question: who is going to win titles in football nowadays? It's clubs that are working with stability on the bench but also in the group. Big clubs are working like this and they get rewards at the end of the season for that.

"Clubs with the philosophy of Chelsea, actually they don't get anything because they don't have any stability."

Listen to the full episode here on BBC Sounds

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Former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielders Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Petit believe Cole Palmer will replicate his form from last season and is a strong contender to be the Premier League's player of the season.

Speaking on the BBC's Planet Premier League podcast, Petit said: "He had a very good season with Chelsea, considering all the troubles in the dressing room and on the pitch. He had a very beautiful season last season, I think he is going to be the same this season."

Fabregas agreed, adding: "As Emmanuel says - outstanding season, great personality, great quality.

"In a difficult moment he stood up so many times to make things happen for Chelsea when nobody really believed. At some points he was always the one that was different.

"It was a big surprise for me because obviously at Manchester City he didn't have the chance. And when you believe in talent like this and sometimes, now when we look around transfers and players, I would love to hit the jackpot in one or two players like that - belief in potential, belief in talent and develop them and give them the platform to fly.”

Listen to the full episode here

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Chelsea would prefer to sell winger Angelo Gabriel rather than loan him out before transfer deadline day.

The 19-year-old has been on the fringes during pre-season and is widely expected to leave after the Blues signed Pedro Neto from Wolves for £54.1m.

The Brazil under-20 international, who was signed for £13m from Santos last summer, has not played a competitive match for Chelsea and spent last season on loan at partner club Strasbourg.

Turkish side Besiktas have registered an interest in taking Angelo on loan but the Blues will try to sell him before the transfer window closes.

That position may soften if they can't attract the kind of permanent bids that would lead to a full sale nearer to the 30 August deadline.

There are also issues with Fifa limits allowing just six players to move on loan overseas from a single club.

Chelsea would also prefer to sell Armando Broja, Trevoh Chalobah, Bashir Humphreys, David Datro Fofana and Kepa Arrizabalaga rather than loan them out this summer.

We asked for one thing that is going under the radar at Stamford Bridge. What's a subject nobody is talking about but should be?

Here are some of your comments:

George: That the Chelsea project could be a revolution in how football is 'done'. It hasn’t been a resounding success just yet, but these guys aren’t stupid. They’re highly successful business and franchise owners… they know a thing or two about what they’re doing… could we see in the coming season or two, a totally new way of operating a football club?

Daniel: Pundits are ignoring how many injuries we had last season - e.g. Nkunku and Lavia, with the absence of the former severely affecting us going forward by not allowing full utilisation of Jackson’s excellent link-up play. Defence is another issue, but between our world class full-backs and the trillion centre-backs we have, something has to stick.

Andy: What’s the plan with Chilwell? Cucurella unlikely to lose his starting place and Veiga looks a very capable rotation option.

Mark: With all the talk of Chelsea’s squad being too big, I’ve a feeling they’re going to play a B-team throughout the Europa Conference league. We’ve seen teams struggle when asked to play on a Thursday and Sunday. But this would be a good solution for keeping our squad players happy via game time, while ensuring our best players are fresh for the Premier League.

David: Fernandez being given the captain's armband after singing that disgraceful song gives all the wrong messages from the management and particularly the owners, incredible that no one at the club has spoken out against it.

Ash: Nicolas Jackson scored 16 goals for Chelsea in his first season in the Premier League. That's more than Drogba's first season (10) and his second (12). My point is we need to be patient with Jackson and get behind him, just like we did for Drogba. And look how that turned out.