Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca says he will make tactical and physical adjustments to his squad ahead of Friday’s crucial Group D clash against Brazilian champions Flamengo at the Club World Cup.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Maresca cited the intense summer heat and the fatigue from a long season as reasons for scaling down the intensity of training sessions. The top-of-the-table encounter is expected to determine who advances as group leader into the knockout rounds.
“It’s not easy because of the temperature,” Maresca admitted. “We’re going to try to rotate players. The Brazilian team are more used to playing in this kind of weather. But it doesn’t matter — we’ll do our best to win the game.”
Maresca said Chelsea would likely rotate “three, four, or five players each game” to manage player fitness and maintain performance levels.
“It’s impossible for players to be at 100% for 11 months straight,” he said. “So we are trying to train less and prioritise tactical aspects rather than physical intensity in our daily sessions.”
Chelsea returned to training for the Club World Cup shortly after lifting the Europa Conference League title on May 28, just days after the Premier League season ended. Despite the tight turnaround, Maresca stressed the importance of the competition.
“This feels like pre-season because we had some days off after the Premier League and then started again,” he said. “But it’s not pre-season; it’s a big competition. We’re here to win games and go as far as possible.”
The Italian coach also voiced support for Ukrainian winger Mykhailo Mudryk, who was charged with an anti-doping rule violation by England’s FA earlier this week.
“Misha is a Chelsea player, and I trust all Chelsea players,” Maresca said. “I haven’t spoken to him recently, but the last time I did, he seemed fine. Until I have more information, there’s not much I can add.”
Both Chelsea and Flamengo currently top Group D with three points apiece, having recorded 2-0 wins against LAFC and Esperance de Tunis, respectively. Friday’s match will take place under hot conditions, adding another layer of challenge in what is expected to be one of the group stage’s most competitive fixtures.
