Enzo Maresca faces a challenging debut as Chelsea’s 2024/25 Premier League campaign kicks off at Stamford Bridge against reigning champions Manchester City on Sunday. Maresca, who once worked under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, will have to carefully select a 20-man squad from a wealth of players available to him, possibly including a last-minute transfer addition before the Friday noon deadline.
Chelsea is reportedly still negotiating with Atletico Madrid for the potential return of Joao Felix, who is eager to rejoin the Blues after a loan spell in the latter half of the 2022/23 season. Although an agreement seems distant, if it happens quickly, Felix could make an appearance against Manchester City. However, Chelsea would need to expedite his medical to make it possible.
New signing Pedro Neto is certain to feature, though it’s unclear whether he will start, given that other players have had a more extensive pre-season.
For the goalkeeper position, Chelsea is likely to choose between Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen, with Djordje Petrovic seemingly not in Maresca’s plans. In defense, with Reece James suspended, Malo Gusto is expected to start at right-back, while Marc Cucurella will likely take the left-back position. Due to the need to reduce the squad to 20 players, Ben Chilwell and Axel Disasi might miss out, especially as Disasi didn’t feature in pre-season.
Carney Chukwuemeka, who played early in the pre-season but was later sidelined, could also be excluded from the squad. Chelsea’s abundance of attacking options may limit the inclusion of central midfielders, with possibly only four making the final cut.
Some attackers, such as Christopher Nkunku, who was tested as an attacking midfielder during the U.S. tour, might fill in midfield roles. The fate of 18-year-old striker Marc Guiu remains uncertain; despite an impressive pre-season, he might struggle to break into the matchday squad unless Chelsea trims its attacking roster or fails to sign Felix in time for the match.
Predicted Chelsea 20-man squad:
Goalkeepers: Sanchez, Jorgensen
Defenders: Gusto, Colwill, Badiashile, Fofana, Cucurella, Tosin
Midfielders:Fernandez, Caicedo, Lavia, Dewsbury-Hall
Attackers:Palmer, Felix (if signed by Friday), Neto, Nkunku, Sterling, Mudryk, Madueke, Jackson
