Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana have been neglected of Chelsea’s squad for the league stage of the Convention League because the Blues look to handle the workload of their star gamers throughout a membership season that would run into mid-July.
Enzo Maresca’s facet confirmed their 25 man group to compete within the first six fixtures of the competitors on Thursday, a range that included plenty of eye-opening absentees. Palmer, final season’s main goalscorer, is essentially the most notable absentee. Additionally lacking are Lavia and Fofana, each of whom missed the overwhelming majority of the 2023-24 marketing campaign with accidents. In accordance with staff sources, the choice to depart these three gamers out is one in every of load administration in a season the place Chelsea can be competing for 5 trophies.
After their Premier League marketing campaign concludes on Might 25, it will likely be round a three-weeks break earlier than the 2021 European champions kick off their involvement within the first staging of FIFA’s revamped Membership World Cup. Have been Chelsea to go all the best way to the ultimate of that competitors their season would conclude on July 13, round a month earlier than the beginning of the 2025-26 home season.
Chelsea are sturdy favorites to win the Convention League and can count on to safe a top-eight berth from a fixture record that pits them in opposition to the likes of Gent, Astana and Shamrock Rovers. Ought to they attain the knockout phases of the competitors, some or the entire trio could possibly be registered.
Palmer performed over 3,600 minutes of membership soccer final season earlier than taking part in a major function in England’s run to the ultimate of Euro 2024. Lavia and Fofana spent most of 2023-24 watching on from the sidelines; the previous performed 33 minutes throughout all competitions whereas the latter didn’t function in any respect after struggling a significant knee damage in preseason.
Ben Chilwell has additionally been neglected of the squad after failing to safe a switch away from the membership in the summertime window.
