MX23RW : Thursday, November 7 23:51:14| >> :120:3792:3792:
[monks data]
Chelsea logo
Conference League | Playoffs | 1st Leg
Aug 22, 2024 at 8pm UK
Stamford Bridge
Servette

Chelsea
2 - 0
Servette

Nkunku (50' pen.), Madueke (76')
Dewsbury-Hall (90+2')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Cognat (90+3')

Chelsea trio left out of Europa Conference League squad

Chelsea make Sterling decision ahead of Conference League playoff
© Imago
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca leaves three high-profile players out of his squad for the Europa Conference League playoff tie with Servette.

Raheem Sterling has been left out of Chelsea's squad for the Europa Conference League playoff tie with Servette.

On Sunday afternoon, it emerged that the winger had been surprisingly omitted from the group for the Premier League opener against champions Manchester City.

Head coach Enzo Maresca insisted that it was purely "a technical decision" and it has since been widely claimed that the 29-year-old has been informed that he should not expect regular game time this season.

With Chelsea facing a busy schedule over the next two weeks, the possibility remained that Sterling could have been provided with the opportunity to impress over the two legs against Swiss opposition.

Instead, it has been revealed that the England international is one of four high-profile names to have been left out by Maresca.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca pictured in July 2024© Imago

Who else will play no part of playoff tie?

Ben Chilwell finds himself in a similar position to Sterling in the sense that he, too, has been told that he is free to leave Stamford Bridge for the right price.

With Marc Cucurella nursing a hamstring injury or cramp late in the Man City game, the left-back could have plausibly been included as cover, but preference has gone to Renato Veiga.

Wesley Fofana successfully came through 90 minutes against City in what was his first competitive appearance for well over a year having recovered from a serious knee injury.

That means that it should come as no surprise that the centre-back is being rested, yet eyebrows would have been raised when experienced new signing Tosin Adarabioyo was also not been selected.

However, it has since emerged that it was a registration error from UEFA and the former Fulham man is actually part of the squad.

Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile - each of whom did not accumulate any minutes at the weekend - are the only other two recognised central defenders named on the 'A' list, although Levi Colwill will be selected on the 'B' list in due course.

There is also a surprise place for Reece James who has been recovering from a minor hamstring injury and had been expected to remain absent.

Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka preparing to score against Leicester City on March 24, 2024.© Reuters

Any other surprises?

Maresca has suggested that Carney Chukwuemeka needs '30 to 35 games' during 2024-25 having struggled for fitness over the past two seasons, the indication being that he will go out on loan.

Nevertheless, the playmaker is selected as part of a 21-player group, as his 18-year-old Marc Guiu after making his debut at the weekend.

Colwill and other academy players will also be available to Maresca for the first leg which takes place at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night.

Chelsea 'A' list in full

Goalkeepers: Sanchez, Jorgensen, Bettinelli

Defenders: Disasi, Cucurella, Badiashile, James, Gusto, Veiga, Tosin

Midfielders: Fernandez, Madueke, Chukwuemeka, Nkunku, Palmer, Dewsbury-Hall, Caicedo, Lavia

Forwards: Mudryk, Jackson, Neto, Guiu

ID:550834:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect5607:No Data Analysis info

Click here for more stories about Enzo Maresca

Click here for more stories about Chelsea

Game History

How you voted: Chelsea vs Servette

Chelsea
90.0%
Draw
7.1%
Servette
2.9%
210
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca pictured in July 2024
Read Next:
Chelsea 'ready' to accept 'significant' offers for 27-year-old
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Chelsea33009
2Legia33009
3Jagiellonia33009
4Rapid Vienna33009
5Heidenheim33009
6Guimaraes33009
7Shamrock32107
8Fiorentina32016
9Ljubljana32016
10Pafos32016
11Hearts32016
12Lugano32016
13Gent32016
14Vikingur 32016
15Borac Banja Luka31114
16Cercle Brugge31114
17Djurgarden31114
18Betis31114
19APOEL31114
20New Saints31023
21Astana31023
22Celje31023
23Omonia31023
24Molde31023
25Backa Topola31023
26HJK Helsinki31023
27St Gallen31023
28Noah31023
29Copenhagen30212
30LASK30212
31Panathinaikos30121
32Istanbul30121
33Mlada Boleslav30030
34Dinamo Minsk30030
35Larne30030
36Petrocub30030


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!