Chelsea: Enzo Maresca explains decision to drop Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson for Brentford clash | OneFootball

Maresca said injury issues had a part to play in decisions

Enzo Maresca has explained why he has opted to leave Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson on the bench for Chelsea’s trip to Brentford on Sunday.

Maresca has brought Reece James, Tosin Adarabioyo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Christopher Nkunku into the starting line-up. Noni Madueke makes his first start since February 14.

That is the same date when Palmer last scored for Chelsea, while Jackson’s last goal came in the reverse fixture against Brentford back in mid-January.

Asked why Palmer and Jackson were on the bench, Maresca told broadcasters before the match: “It's just the game plan.

Chelsea’s match against Brentford comes three days after their 1-0 win over Spurs and four days before they face Legia Warsaw in Poland in their Europa Conference League quarter-final first leg.

Asked whether their busy schedule partly explained the five changes: “Also for that, also because we have players back from injury.

“So two games in 48 to 72 hours is not the best thing to do after a long time [out] and we try to manage it a little bit.”