Enzo Maresca has announced that Ben Chilwell will be included in Chelsea’s squad for their Carabao Cup third-round clash against Barrow, following his return to the first-team setup.
After a tumultuous summer where the English full-back was effectively sidelined in what was termed the ‘bomb squad’ due to his anticipated departure from the club, Chilwell found himself still at Stamford Bridge when a move did not materialize.
Having spent four years with Chelsea, Chilwell’s situation shifted last week when he was welcomed back into first-team training, signaling a potential revival of his career at the club.
Despite not having played under Maresca this season, the match against League Two side Barrow on Tuesday night presents a prime opportunity for him to get his first minutes of the campaign.
“They [players such as Chilwell] are going to be the ones who will be in the squad vs Barrow,” Maresca stated during his pre-match press conference.
He added, “Some we will see if they start, but if not, they will all be on the bench, and hopefully, we can give them some minutes.”
Chilwell’s last competitive start for Chelsea was in March, when he played in a 2-2 draw against Brentford under former manager Mauricio Pochettino.
During an injury-riddled season, he managed only nine Premier League starts, contributing to Chelsea’s disappointing sixth-place finish.
Although he has not yet featured in any matchday squad this season, Chilwell was listed in Chelsea’s Premier League squad submitted in early September.
Previously, Maresca had indicated that it might be best for Chilwell’s future to lie away from Stamford Bridge.
“Chilly is with us but he has not been training for the last few days because he has been ill,” Maresca noted ahead of a Premier League defeat to Manchester City. He elaborated, “The reason he did not play [in a pre-season friendly] versus Inter was because, with Chilly, it is quite clear, even though I love the way he is, the problem is, he is struggling a bit to find the right position.”
As it became increasingly evident that Chilwell would remain with the club until at least January, Maresca spoke optimistically about the possibility of reviving his Chelsea career
“Ben now is the only one [of the exiled group] still here, so probably now we’ll sit with him and find a solution,” he commented in the lead-up to Chelsea’s victory over West Ham. “The reason he is training apart is because the idea was for him to leave. But because we didn’t find any solution, he’s here, and probably he’s going to start to train with us. We need to decide that. If we decide that, he will be one of our players.”
Under Maresca’s guidance, Chelsea has gained momentum, having secured victories in their last two matches, bolstering confidence throughout the squad.
While Marc Cucurella has been entrusted with the left-back position in Chilwell’s absence, the inclusion of Chilwell in the upcoming match against Barrow could signify a turning point in his season.
