Last week saw Chelsea announce the squad they would be using for the Conference League group stages this season.
There were a number of surprises made by the Blues, with Cole Palmer left out as the Blues hope to manage minutes for a number of players.
This has been the same for Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana, with their injury issues well-documented since they joined Chelsea.
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A number of young players will be given the chance to impress too, with Kiano Dyer one of those hoping to impress Enzo Maresca.
A number of players who are currently out of the manager’s plans may have been hoping the European games could have been an opportunity for them to get some valuable minutes.
Ben Chilwell hoped to play Conference League games
One of those is Ben Chilwell, who the club were unable to move on this summer late in the transfer window.
They have asked clubs to sign Chilwell where the transfer window is still open, however that is looking unlikely at this stage.
Journalist Kieran Gill has stated that the left-back had hoped to be included in the squad for those games, however was snubbed.
He said: “Ben Chilwell had hoped to be named in Chelsea’s Conference League squad submitted to UEFA last week – told he was given heads up they’d be excluding Cole Palmer et al – but was snubbed.
“Chelsea will reveal their Premier League squad this Friday, and Chilwell can help fill homegrown quota, but Enzo Maresca has already insisted those training separately will not play under him.”
Chelsea backing Marc Cucurella
Chilwell held the role of vice-captain as recently as last season, and had been an important player when fit since his £50m move in 2020.
However, the Blues are firmly backing Marc Cucurella as their starting option at left-back, with them liking his ability to feature centrally.
This is another reason they have been left so delighted with the signing of Renato Veiga, with them feeling like he came in for a real bargain.
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