Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has played down the importance of his first team losing to the club’s Under-21s in a training-ground friendly during the international break.
The Blues ended their run of fixtures in March with a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal before a wide array of their players travelled to represent their respective nations.
However, it was reported during the break in action that the senior players who had remained at Cobham had participated in a 3-0 reverse at the hands of a team that featured a mix of Under-21s and Under-18s.
Malo Gusto and Benoit Badiashile were said to be among the first-teamers who featured in that game, and it led to a scheduled day off being cancelled by Maresca.
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Maresca comments on training defeat
Speaking at a press conference prior to Thursday’s Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur, Maresca confirmed what had been reported in the media.
Nevertheless, the Italian was quick to play down the significance of what transpired, giving his own take as to why his players under-performed.
He said, as quoted by football.london: “Yes, but it’s nothing. Since I joined the club I always demand for high standards. International break, no official game, not many players here.
“The day after off, sometimes it’s normal to be a little bit relaxed, but because I don’t allow this we decide the day after to train, but it’s nothing, nothing strange or nothing new.
“As I said, international break, not official game, not many players here. They are training here every day, every day, every day without any official game and then we play just a game between us and second team and we decide that, we take that decision.”
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Chelsea handed boost ahead of Spurs game
While not believed to have participated in the training match, Nicolas Jackson was among those who was making his return to the grass at a similar time after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Maresca revealed on Wednesday that the Senegal international is one of three attackers who is in line to be selected in the squad for the London derby with Spurs.
However, at the same media briefing, Maresca confirmed that one of his injury-hit players had suffered another issue ahead of the game at Stamford Bridge.
