Enzo Maresca Confident Chelsea Are Primed for Palace Test

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has expressed confidence that his squad is prepared to take on Crystal Palace in the Premier League opener this Sunday at Stamford Bridge.

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Despite a brief pre-season following their Club World Cup triumph, Maresca believes his team has shown enough promise in friendlies to face a formidable Palace side.

Speaking ahead of the match, Maresca highlighted the challenge posed by the Eagles, who recently secured the FA Cup and triumphed over Liverpool in the Community Shield, leaving Liverpool boss Arne Slot to bemoan missed chances.

“Sunday's game will be very difficult,” Maresca admitted. “They beat two of the best teams in England in the last 15 years in consecutive finals, which shows the level of challenge we are up against.”

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In terms of fitness, Chelsea received encouraging news as Trevoh Chalobah has recovered from the heat-induced discomfort that limited him during their pre-season win over AC Milan.

“It was too hot for him against AC Milan,” Maresca said with a smile, confirming Chalobah is ready for selection. The manager also provided updates on Benoit Badiashile and Romeo Lavia, who continue their recovery, and Wesley Fofana, who may feature depending on final assessments.

While Chelsea will be without Levi Colwill for an extended period following ACL surgery, Maresca emphasised the team’s adaptability. “Levi has been crucial for us, especially in our build-up play,” he noted.

“His absence is a loss, but we have the players to continue creating chances and maintaining our attacking approach.”

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Despite the short preparation time, Maresca believes his players’ performances in pre-season victories against Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan demonstrate readiness.

“We guess we are ready, but the real competition will tell us for sure,” he said. The Blues will look to harness that momentum and start the Premier League season on a strong note against a Palace team that has proven to be formidable under pressure.