Nottingham, October 17, 2025 — Enzo Maresca, the Italian tactician driving Chelsea’s revival, struck a composed tone at Friday’s pre-match press conference in Cobham, analyzing his injury-hit squad ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. With Maresca serving a one-match touchline ban—punishment for his exuberant celebration during the stoppage-time win over Liverpool on October 4—assistant coach Willy Caballero takes charge from the sidelines. The manager’s team update carried a blend of guarded optimism and realism: defensive reinforcements are back, yet several key absences could still shape Chelsea’s pursuit of a top-four finish.
“We’re building rhythm, but injuries test us constantly,” Maresca said calmly amid the media crowd. “Tomorrow is about focus—Forest are fighting for Europe as well.”
Chelsea’s dramatic 2–1 victory over Liverpool—sealed by Estêvão Willian’s composure in the 95th minute—lifted them to fourth place on 18 points from 10 matches, just three behind leaders Arsenal. The triumph was built on Marc Cucurella’s masterclass in containing Mohamed Salah. But the international break has once again taken its toll, adding new fitness concerns to a season already plagued by Reece James’s recurring hamstring issues and Cole Palmer’s groin troubles. Drawing on lessons from his Pep Guardiola mentorship at Manchester City, Maresca stressed tactical flexibility within his fluid 4-2-3-1 setup:
“We prepare for these scenarios. Willy knows the system inside out—it’ll be seamless.”
There are reasons for encouragement. Captain Reece James, who withdrew from England duty after a muscle tweak against Liverpool, has returned to full training and could mark his 200th Chelsea appearance if selected. “Reece looks sharp,” Maresca noted. “We’ll manage his minutes, but he’s ready.” Defensive depth also improves with Tosin Adarabioyo and Wesley Fofana cleared to return, offsetting Benoît Badiashile’s hamstring setback. Adarabioyo, the £35 million signing from Fulham, offers solid cover for Levi Colwill, while Fofana’s blistering pace—recorded at 35 km/h—could prove crucial against Forest’s counter-led threat spearheaded by Chris Wood, who has already netted six goals this season.
Midfield linchpin Enzo Fernández remains the biggest question mark. The £107 million World Cup winner returned early from Argentina’s qualifiers with knee inflammation but participated fully in Thursday’s session. “Enzo trained today—he’s available if he feels right,” Maresca confirmed. His absence in recent matches has been sorely felt; Fernández’s three goals and 92% passing accuracy anchor Chelsea’s creative engine. Moisés Caicedo and Pedro Neto, both carrying minor knocks from international duty, will undergo late assessments following Friday’s light training. “They pushed hard with their national teams—we’ll see how they recover,” said Maresca, referencing Caicedo’s thunderous strike versus Liverpool as evidence of his growing confidence.
Still, the injury list remains lengthy. Cole Palmer, the £42.5 million playmaker who set up Estêvão’s winner, continues his recovery from a groin strain and is expected back in mid-November—a significant blow. “Cole’s our spark,” Maresca admitted. “But others must fill that void.” Trevoh Chalobah misses out through suspension, while Andrey Santos picked up a knock on Brazil U23 duty. Up front, Liam Delap’s hamstring tear sidelines him until December, leaving Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke to lead the line. Long-term absentee Levi Colwill (ACL rupture) continues rehabilitation, with Maresca emphasizing patience: “Levi’s recovery is progressing, but we won’t rush him—he’s vital to our future.”
As for Forest, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side pose a genuine test. Sitting seventh with 16 points, they remain unbeaten in five home games (three wins, two draws) and rely heavily on Morgan Gibbs-White’s ingenuity and Chris Wood’s aerial threat. Summer arrivals Elliot Anderson and Carlos Miguel have added bite, though speculation about Nuno’s future persists amid links to Tottenham. Chelsea, however, boast a dominant record in this fixture—unbeaten in seven (five wins, two draws), including last season’s 5–0 rout. “We’ve got the quality to control the match,” Maresca said. “It’s all about execution.”
Caballero, once Maresca’s teammate at Manchester City, exuded calm confidence. “Enzo’s vision drives us—we’ll bring that same fire we showed against Liverpool.”
Predicted XI: Sánchez; James, Fofana, Adarabioyo, Cucurella; Caicedo, Lavia; Garnacho, Fernández, Madueke; Jackson (pending Fernández’s fitness). Substitutes include Estêvão, Nkunku (recently back from injury), and Guiu.
For Chelsea, perched on the Champions League threshold, victory could pull them level with third-placed Liverpool, who face Manchester United this weekend. A loss, however, could drop them to sixth, tightening the race behind Arsenal.
Maresca’s Chelsea, resilient despite setbacks, reflect their manager’s ethos: progress through adversity. As the City Ground prepares for another electric afternoon, the Italian may be absent from the dugout—but his imprint remains unmistakable. Forest beware: even without their conductor, Chelsea’s orchestra keeps playing.
