Enzo Maresca has expressed confidence in Chelsea’s resurgent midfield ahead of Sunday’s high-stakes Premier League showdown with top-five contenders Newcastle.
For the first time in six months, Maresca fielded the same starting XI in back-to-back league matches, and the continuity paid off as Chelsea defeated champions Liverpool 3-1 last weekend.
The return of Romeo Lavia has played a crucial role in Chelsea’s midfield dominance. After being sidelined for much of the previous season, Lavia has now started consecutive games, bolstering the team’s control in the center of the pitch.
Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo are also delivering their best performances since joining the club, with Caicedo recently named Chelsea’s player of the season.
With a solid midfield platform, Cole Palmer rediscovered his scoring touch, ending a lengthy goal drought with a standout performance against Liverpool.
Maresca sees midfield superiority as a decisive factor for Chelsea at St James’ Park, especially with Newcastle relying heavily on the form of Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali.
“Absolutely, yes. Against Liverpool we repeated the first XI after six months. It’s important when you can continue with the same players,” Maresca said.
“We have Romeo back fit, Moises is doing well, Enzo and Cole are doing well. Newcastle also have Bruno Guimaraes, Tonali, (Jacob) Murphy, (Joe) Willock. They have different kinds of players. I expect for sure a huge game.”
Both clubs are level on points going into the fixture, with Chelsea trailing Newcastle on goal difference. A win for either side would provide significant momentum in the race for a Champions League spot.
Chelsea, who are also set to face Real Betis in the UEFA Conference League final, have timed their resurgence well, winning six of their last nine league games.
Still, Maresca acknowledged that Chelsea’s hopes may ultimately hinge on their final two matches—at home against Manchester United and away to Nottingham Forest.
When asked whether Newcastle’s attacking style might benefit his side, Maresca responded, “I hope so. We’ve played games against teams who play a low block, against teams that try to be aggressive, and we made some good games in both situations.”
What you should know
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is counting on the club’s in-form midfield trio—Lavia, Fernandez, and Caicedo—to tip the balance in a pivotal clash against Newcastle. With Champions League qualification at stake, Chelsea are hitting form at a crucial time.
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