Flamengo goleia o Floresta e garante vaga na segunda fase da Copinha

MatériaMais Notícias

O Flamengo está na segunda fase da Copinha. A confirmação da vaga veio na noite deste sábado, quando os Garotos do Ninho derrotaram o Floresta (CE) por 4 a 0 na Arena Barueri, pela segunda rodada da competição. Ryan Luka, Andr, Werton e Pedro Arthur fizeram os gols da vitória rubro-negra.

O Floresta volta a campo na próxima terça-feira, às 19h30, na Arena Barueri, para enfrentar o Forte (ES). Já classificados para a fase mata-mata, Flamengo e Oeste se enfrentamno mesmo local e data, às 21h45, para definir o líder do Grupo 29. Ambas as partidas são válidas pela terceira e última rodada da fase de grupos da Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior.

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>Veja imagens da chegada de Paulo Sousa, o novo técnico do Flamengo, no Rio

PRESSÃO RUBRO-NEGRA

Assim como foi diante do Forte (ES), o técnico Fábio Matias mandou a campo uma equipe ofensiva, que foi para cima do Floresta logo no começo. Não por acaso, o Flamengo pressionava a equipe cearense, que só conseguiu chegar ao campo de ataque aos cinco minutos.

Desse modo, após tanto pressionar, os Garotos do Ninho conseguiram tirar o zero do marcador. Aos 12 minutos, Matheus França cruzou para Ryan Luka, que matou no peito e bateu firme para fazer o primeiro do Fla. O zagueiro Léo ainda teve a chance de fazer o corte, mas não conseguiu.

NA RAÇA

Após o gol, o Flamengo não mudou a postura e continuou no campo de ataque em busca do segundo gol, o que aconteceu dez minutos depois. Matheus França enfiou para Marcos Paulo pelo lado esquerdo, mas Dudu chegou primeiro e começou a proteger a bola, que sairia em tiro de meta.

Entretanto, o lateral teve raça e conseguiu o cruzamento rasteiro de carrinho e sem cometer falta. Assim, a bola sobrou livre para André, que só teve o trabalho de fazer o segundo gol do Rubro-Negro na partida. Na comemoração, os Garotos do Ninho fizeram uma homenagem ao Dia do Fotógrafo. Veja como foi no vídeo abaixo:

FLA VOLTA LIGADO

O Flamengo retornou para o segundo tempo com a mesma intensidade e, logo aos três minutos, ampliou a vantagem. Ryan Luka invadiu a área pelo lado esquerdo e tocou atrás para Marcos Paulo, que finalizou de primeiro. Cauã deu rebote, e a bola sobrou para Werton fazer o terceiro do Flamengo.

LEVOU PERIGO

Marcos Paulo, um dos principais nomes do Flamengo dentro de campo, quase fez um golaço do meio da rua. Após cobrança de escanteio na área, a zaga do Floresta fez o corte, mas a bola sobrou para o lateral-esquerdo. Mesmo de longe, o camisa 6 arriscou o chute, que levou perigo à meta de Cauã.

PARA FECHAR A GOLEADA

O Flamengo fechou a conta com Pedro Arthur, que entrou na etapa final. Os Garotos do Ninho puxaram contra-ataque após chegada do Floresta, e Mateusão foi acionado pela direita. O atacante, por sua vez, serviu o camisa 18, que limpou a marcação e, de fora da área, finalizou rasteiro e no canto para fazer o quarto gol rubro-negro.

FICHA TÉCNICA
Floresta (CE) 0 x 4 Flamengo

Data e hora: 08/01/2022, às 19h
Local: Arena Barueri, em Barueri (SP)
Árbitro: Matheus Delgado Candançan
Assistentes: Alex Alexandrino e Robson Ferreira Oliveira

Cartões amarelos: Willian Wallace e Diogo (FLO) / Igor Jesus, Kayke David e Victor Hugo (FLA)
Cartões vermelhos: –
Gols: Ryan Luka (0-1) (12’/1ºT), André (0-2) (22’/1ºT), Werton (0-3) (03’/2ºT), Pedro Arthur (0-4) (38’/2ºT)

FLORESTA (Técnico: Daniel Rocha)
Cauã; Kayky Batista (Samuel, 11’/2ºT), Léo, Crisderlano e Davi Castro (Lázaro, 29’/2ºT); Dudu, Athyrson (Vitinho, 11’/2ºT) e Rodrigo (Diogo, 29’/2ºT); Adrielson, Iarley (Levi Ribeiro, 29’/2ºT) e Willian Wallace (Maicon Kauã, 41’/1ºT).

FLAMENGO (Técnico: Fábio Matias)
Bruno; Wesley (Breno, 17’/2ºT), Kayque Soares, Cleiton (Otávio, 17’/2ºT) e Marcos Paulo; Igor Jesus; Kayke David (Victor Hugo, 31’/2ºT), Matheus França e Werton (Pedro Arthur, 17’/2ºT); Ryan Luka (Mateusão, 26’/2ºT) e André (Petterson, 26’/2ºT).

'He's not that striker!' – Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel takes another swipe at Nicolas Jackson in fresh call for club to sign Victor Osimhen, Alexander Isak or Viktor Gyokeres

John Obi Mikel took another dig at a misfiring Nicolas Jackson as he urged Chelsea to sign Victor Osimhen, Alexander Isak or Viktor Gyokeres.

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  • Jackson hasn't scored in last four games
  • Chelsea have dropped 10 points during this period
  • Mikel wants top-tier striker
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Jackson started the season with promise but has struggled to find the back of the net in the recent past. The forward has failed to score in Chelsea's last four games, a period where the team squandered crucial points and slipped further behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.

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    WHAT MIKEL SAID

    Mikel, a known critic of Jackson, addressed this issue during , stating that Chelsea's lack of clinical finishing is hindering their progress.

    "We are creating chances, we are still playing well, we are still doing the right things but we’re not clinical enough, we’re not scoring goals," Mikel said.

    "We’ve talked about getting another top, top striker who can win us these kind of games, difficult games where if Nicolas Jackson is not firing on all cylinders you can give him a rest and then get someone else to come into the team and try to win us games and score goals. We are not clinical enough, he is not scoring enough goals. He puts himself in the right positions but then he’s not finishing, he’s not scoring enough.

    "He’s not a striker who’s going to get us to the top four or win us the Premier League title. He’s not that striker. I don’t think he can get us over the line in terms of winning trophies. For me, he’s a player who can link up play, he’s good on the ball but he’s not scoring enough goals."

  • Getty Images Sport

    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Mikel emphasized that Chelsea need a top-tier striker to complement Jackson or even replace him when necessary. He went on to specifically name Victor Osimhen, Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres, and Newcastle's Alexander Isak as players who could significantly improve the team's offensive capabilities.

    "If we had Victor Osimhen or the guy from Sporting, Viktor Gyokeres, trust me, we’d still be competing for the Premier League," Mikel added. "Nicolas is not scoring enough, the finishing, he needs to find a way. For me it’s a bit of a worry because we’re not scoring enough.

    "Without Cole Palmer I don’t know where we would’ve been this season, definitely not where we are right now, he’s carrying the team on his shoulders, he’s creating chances, scoring goals, what more can he do? One goal in six [from Jackson] is not good enough. You talk about top, top strikers, look at Isak at Newcastle, he’s flying, that’s what we need."

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  • WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA & JACKSON?

    Chelsea's relatively light January schedule provides a window of opportunity to recalibrate their approach. They face League Two side Morecambe in the FA Cup third round on January 11, followed by league matches at Stamford Bridge against Bournemouth and Wolves. These fixtures could allow Jackson to regain his confidence and fire on all cylinders until the business end of the season.

Man Utd’s exciting Carrington star must now start over Casemiro & Ugarte

There was a lot of excitement heading into this season for Manchester United fans, as while their Premier League form was dreadful last year, the club had a busy summer in the transfer market.

Unfortunately, Erik ten Hag’s side have already burst that bubble of hope. After winning their first game against Fulham last month, they proceeded to lose back-to-back games against Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool.

There were plenty of poor performers in both games, but Casemiro was notably off the pace, as he was last season, and while Manuel Ugarte should hopefully be his long-term replacement, the manager has claimed he won’t be match fit for some time.

However, there might just be a solution to this problem: one of the club’s own should come in to replace the Brazilian for the game away to Southampton.

Casemiro's recent form

Casemiro’s tenure at Manchester United has been a strange one, as when he arrived from Real Madrid for £70m in the summer of 2022, there were already some doubts about his age.

Casemiro

That said, over the course of that season, the Brazilian was fantastic and proved his doubters wrong. In fact, he was even named the signing of the season by Gary Neville.

However, for whatever reason, the legendary midfielder suddenly and dramatically regressed at the start of last year, and instead of being a monstrous defensive midfielder able to stop attacks before they began, he became a cumbersome liability who regularly got his side into trouble.

It got so bad towards the end of the campaign that former defender Jamie Carragher gave him the now-famous advice to “leave the football before the football leaves you.”

Unfortunately for the five-time Champions League winner, and United for that matter, his calamitous form has continued into this season, and so far he’s made two errors leading to a goal in just three games.

Casemiro’s 24/25 stats

Appearances

3

Shots

6

Shots on target

1

Crosses (Accurate)

3 (1)

Fouls

1

Offsides

2

Tackles (Succesful)

10 (6)

Duels Won

16

Duels Lost

11

Aerial Battles Won

3

Aerial Battles Lost

3

Errors Leading to a Goal

2

All Stats via the Premier League

In all, it’s time the club moved on from the 32-year-old star, and while Ugarte will likely play in his place for most of the campaign, Ten Hag has a youngster in the squad ready to step up.

Why Toby Collyer should start vs Southampton

Yes, the youngster in question is 20-year-old Toby Collyer, who joined United from Brighton in March 2022.

By then, the then 18-year-old prospect had already captained England’s U16 and U17 sides and has since gone on to make 28 appearances for the Red Devils’ U21 side and three for their U18 side.

However, it was at the start of this month that the 5 foot 11 gem caught the attention of the wider footballing world as he made his Premier League debut, coming off the bench to replace Casemiro at half time against Liverpool.

It was a trial by fire for the inexperienced Worthing-born midfielder, and while he couldn’t help the team come out with any points, he did look more assured than the Brazilian veteran and was given a 6/10 by the Express’ Amos Murphy, while the 32-year-old got a brutal but fair 1/10.

Now, it’s hard to fully judge a young midfielder off of 45 minutes in a derby and half an hour in the Community Shield. Still, the early signs are encouraging, and those in the know are incredibly excited about his future prospects.

For example, in March 2022, former Brighton U18 coach Mark Beard described him as someone “who plays like two men” and said that managers would “want 11 of these type of players in the team.”

Lastly, while no game is easy in the Premier League, Southampton will probably be one of the weakest teams United play this season, so if Ten Hag wants to hand out more minutes to promising youngsters, then today is the day.

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The talented midfielder looks promising.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 12, 2024

Ultimately, fans should not expect the world from Collyer just yet, but with Ugarte supposedly not fully fit and Casemiro all out at sea, the 20-year-old deserves to start today.

Man Utd’s exciting Carrington star must now start over Casemiro & Ugarte

There was a lot of excitement heading into this season for Manchester United fans, as while their Premier League form was dreadful last year, the club had a busy summer in the transfer market.

Unfortunately, Erik ten Hag’s side have already burst that bubble of hope. After winning their first game against Fulham last month, they proceeded to lose back-to-back games against Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool.

There were plenty of poor performers in both games, but Casemiro was notably off the pace, as he was last season, and while Manuel Ugarte should hopefully be his long-term replacement, the manager has claimed he won’t be match fit for some time.

However, there might just be a solution to this problem: one of the club’s own should come in to replace the Brazilian for the game away to Southampton.

Casemiro's recent form

Casemiro’s tenure at Manchester United has been a strange one, as when he arrived from Real Madrid for £70m in the summer of 2022, there were already some doubts about his age.

Casemiro

That said, over the course of that season, the Brazilian was fantastic and proved his doubters wrong. In fact, he was even named the signing of the season by Gary Neville.

However, for whatever reason, the legendary midfielder suddenly and dramatically regressed at the start of last year, and instead of being a monstrous defensive midfielder able to stop attacks before they began, he became a cumbersome liability who regularly got his side into trouble.

It got so bad towards the end of the campaign that former defender Jamie Carragher gave him the now-famous advice to “leave the football before the football leaves you.”

Unfortunately for the five-time Champions League winner, and United for that matter, his calamitous form has continued into this season, and so far he’s made two errors leading to a goal in just three games.

Appearances

3

Shots

6

Shots on target

1

Crosses (Accurate)

3 (1)

Fouls

1

Offsides

2

Tackles (Succesful)

10 (6)

Duels Won

16

Duels Lost

11

Aerial Battles Won

3

Aerial Battles Lost

3

Errors Leading to a Goal

2

In all, it’s time the club moved on from the 32-year-old star, and while Ugarte will likely play in his place for most of the campaign, Ten Hag has a youngster in the squad ready to step up.

Why Toby Collyer should start vs Southampton

Yes, the youngster in question is 20-year-old Toby Collyer, who joined United from Brighton in March 2022.

By then, the then 18-year-old prospect had already captained England’s U16 and U17 sides and has since gone on to make 28 appearances for the Red Devils’ U21 side and three for their U18 side.

However, it was at the start of this month that the 5 foot 11 gem caught the attention of the wider footballing world as he made his Premier League debut, coming off the bench to replace Casemiro at half time against Liverpool.

It was a trial by fire for the inexperienced Worthing-born midfielder, and while he couldn’t help the team come out with any points, he did look more assured than the Brazilian veteran and was given a 6/10 by the Express’ Amos Murphy, while the 32-year-old got a brutal but fair 1/10.

Now, it’s hard to fully judge a young midfielder off of 45 minutes in a derby and half an hour in the Community Shield. Still, the early signs are encouraging, and those in the know are incredibly excited about his future prospects.

For example, in March 2022, former Brighton U18 coach Mark Beard described him as someone “who plays like two men” and said that managers would “want 11 of these type of players in the team.”

Lastly, while no game is easy in the Premier League, Southampton will probably be one of the weakest teams United play this season, so if Ten Hag wants to hand out more minutes to promising youngsters, then today is the day.

He's like De Jong: Man Utd have already sold their next Gomes for just £850k

The talented midfielder looks promising.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 12, 2024

Ultimately, fans should not expect the world from Collyer just yet, but with Ugarte supposedly not fully fit and Casemiro all out at sea, the 20-year-old deserves to start today.

Ben Stokes set to miss New Zealand Tests with broken finger

Ben Stokes looks set to miss England’s Test series against New Zealand in June after the ECB said that he would require surgery on his broken finger, putting him out for up to 12 weeks.The England allrounder underwent an X-ray and CT scan on Thursday and will fly home from the IPL on Saturday after fracturing his left index finger in Rajasthan Royals’ opening game. The first Test of the summer, against New Zealand at Lord’s starting on June 2, is just over six weeks away.Related

  • England players at IPL 2021 – the teams, the stats, the form

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  • Broken finger rules Stokes out of remainder of IPL 2021

Stokes had initially indicated he wanted to stay with the Royals to provide “valued support and inputs off the field”, but he will now return to the UK for an operation in Leeds on Monday. He had already been ruled out of the IPL by the injury, which he sustained while diving to take a catch against Punjab Kings.England had been facing the possibility of missing Stokes, the Test vice-captain, for the Lord’s game, should the Royals remain involved for the IPL’s knockout stages. They will also play New Zealand at Edgbaston the following week, before limited-overs series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.A 12-week rehabilitation process would mean Stokes returning to fitness in time for the start of the Hundred in mid-July, which is followed by a five-Test series against India.

England could be also be without the likes of Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes and Sam Curran for the first New Zealand Test, due to IPL clashes, and have injury concerns over Jofra Archer, who recently required surgery on his hand and has been managing an elbow problem – although he is hoping to still be involved in the IPL after returning to bowling earlier this week.There was better news in the latest on opener Dom Sibley, who also suffered a finger injury in the field during Warwickshire’s Championship game against Notts. X-rays confirmed a small fracture but he could still bat in the game at Trent Bridge, and is not expected to be a doubt for the New Zealand series.

Chelsea now contacted over signing "relentless" £50m star from Barcelona

Chelsea have been contacted over signing a £50 million star from Barcelona, as the player now sets his sights on a move to the Premier League this summer.

Chelsea in the market to sign new forward before deadline day

Summer deadline day looms at the end of next month on August 30, and reports suggest Todd Boehly could still back new head coach Enzo Maresca with fresh faces before that point.

£25 million forward likened to Luis Suarez holds talks to join Chelsea

He’s been highly praised by Joe Cole.

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Emilio Galantini

Jul 18, 2024

Official deals for defender Tosin Adarabioyo (free), striker Marc Guiu, homegrown starlet Omari Kellyman, midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Portuguese ace Renato Veiga, alongside Brazilian starlet Estevao Willian, who'll join in 2025, set Chelsea back around £93 million.

The west Londoners, in total, have spent near-£120 million so far, including Chelsea's signings of Aaron Anselmino and Caleb Wiley from Boca Juniors and Atlanta United respectively, with the duo costing around £25.5 million (The Athletic).

Chelsea's best-performing players in the Premier League last season

Average match rating (WhoScored)

Cole Palmer

7.48

Conor Gallagher

7.13

Nicolas Jackson

7.07

Moises Caicedo

6.85

Noni Madueke

6.84

Despite their serious investment in both senior players and talents for the future, co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley remain in the market for a new forward and centre-back.

Chelsea are believed to be prioritising a new winger as one of their top transfer wishes, with Maresca apparently keen on providing competition for the likes of Raheem Sterling, Noni Madueke and Mykhailo Mudryk.

They hold no shortage of options, as reports heavily link Chelsea with the likes of Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams and Borussia Dortmund forward Karim Adeyemi lately.

Chelsea contacted over signing Raphinha from Barcelona

According to HITC, Chelsea may now have a chance to do a deal for Raphinha, who is said to be keen on making a move back to England from Barcelona.

The former Leeds United star, who is valued at around £50 million, scored six goals and registered a further nine assists in La Liga last season. HITC claim Chelsea have been spoken to about signing Raphinha this summer, but it is unclear whether they were approached by the Brazilian's agents or Barca themselves.

The 27-year-old's proven top-flight experience could be a draw for Maresca's side, with Raphinha attracting plenty of praise during his time in the Premier League.

“Each week we are seeing more and more of his repertoire. He has so much to offer Leeds United," said former Whites striker Noel Whelan on Raphinha during his time at Elland Road (Football Insider).

“That skill in the corner against Gary Cahill was a typical bit of Brazilian magic. He really embarrassed Cahill with a clever megs. He is a player now who continuously has an effect on a game, in a positive way. Even if he is not on the scoresheet, he will have played a hand in the goal. He is relentless.

“He gets on the ball, has great balance, is very dynamic and he takes the game to the opposition. What impresses me is that he is not afraid to do the horrible side. I get more and more impressed by his worth ethic.”

Imagine him & Kilman: West Ham leading the race to sign £25m talent

West Ham United supporters felt a pang of concern after David Moyes departed the club at the end of the 2023/24 campaign. It was the right decision, but still, the Scot had led the club to their brightest period in modern history, and the road ahead looked fraught with the murky unknown.

Julen Lopetegui's subsequent appointment failed to allay such trepidation, with supporters viewing the deal as pragmatic, but he has since proved himself bold and committed to building a competitive squad, combining with technical director Tim Steidten in the transfer market to make some exciting signings.

Wolves captain Max Kilman

A new centre-forward is yet to come, but one of the most important issues has been mitigated in central defence, with Max Kilman signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £40m.

West Ham transfer news

Lopetegui wants more in defence. According to Caught Offside, West Ham are leading the race to sign Ajax centre-half Josip Sutalo, who has also been scouted by Brighton & Hove Albion and Fulham in the Premier League.

Josip Sutalo for Croatia

Valued at €30m (£25m) by the struggling Dutch giants, the Croatian is expected to be at the centre of official bids, albeit below Ajax's expectation.

West Ham are in the most commanding position after signing Edson Alvarez and Mohammed Kudus from the Eredivisie side last year, and could now use past dealings to their advantage.

Why West Ham want Josip Sutalo

West Ham have considered selling central defensive mainstays Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma this summer, the latter of whom is the club's captain.

Kurt Zouma for West Ham

Sutalo, 24, completed 39 appearances for Ajax last term and played every minute of Croatia's disappointing Euro 2024 campaign, with the Luka Modric-captained nation failing to make it past the group phase, collecting two points.

It might have been a tough season for club and country as far as the 6 foot 3 titan is concerned, but there's no question that he has maintained a formidable level throughout, combining defensive steel with bouncing energy and crisp passing.

Josip Sutalo: 2023/24 Stats

Statistics

Eredivisie

Euro 2024

Matches played

23

3

Goals

1

0

Pass completion

92%

96%

Clean sheets

3

0

Touches per game

85.8

82.0

Tackles per game

1.3

1.7

Interceptions per game

1.7

4.3

Clearances per game

3.7

2.3

Ball recoveries per game

6.6

4.3

Dribbles per game

0.6 (61%)

1.0 (100%)

Duels won per game

5.0 (60%)

5.3 (59%)

Direct errors made

0

1

Stats via Sofascore

Progressive and proficient across a wide range of roles, Sutalo would be a brilliant addition to a new-look West Ham defence, partnering with the left-sided Kilman to create a dynamic sheen.

Kilman, aged 27, is not exactly the conventional defender either, prone to surging forwards and seeking out passages himself, with the clip below highlighting the kind of shuttling success he can find with the ball at his feet.

The Wolves defender, who plied his trade under Lopetegui during the 2022/23 season, averaged 4.7 recoveries and clearances per game in the Premier League last term and won 71% of his aerial battles, suggesting that the Irons could find a solid partnership capable of performing well whatever the conditions.

One year ago, talent scout Jacek Kulig described Sutalo as "one of the most underrated U-23 CBs in Europe", speaking highly of his potential.

Max Kilman for Wolves

He might have endured a testing 12 months but the Croatia star has proved himself sturdy despite the woes of the collective, and would be a credit to West Ham as they step into a new era.

West Ham submit bid to sign Duran alternative who's better than En-Nesyri

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BS Chandrasekhar recovering in hospital after suffering 'minutest stroke'

The 75-year old complained of “tiredness and fatigue” on Friday evening and his speech became a “little bit cluttered”

PTI18-Jan-2021

Bhagwath Chandrasekhar is among the top-ten wicket-takers for India in Test cricket•Getty Images

Former India legspinner BS Chandrasekhar is recovering in a hospital after suffering a “very, very minutest stroke.””Chandra is recovering very well, and he will be back home on Wednesday or Thursday,” his wife Sandhya Chandrasekhar told PTI.The 75-year old complained of “tiredness and fatigue” on Friday evening and his speech became a “little bit cluttered”, according to her.On the advice of doctors that he needed neurological treatment, Chandrasekhar, was admitted in Aster RV Hospital, where he was kept in the emergency care unit for medical observation.Sandhya said that Chandrasekhar has now been shifted to regular ward and is undergoing physiotherapy.”There is some kind of blockage in the brain. It’s a very, very minutest stroke,” she said. “There is no problem. It’s not a life-threatening thing. Please convey to fans that Chandra is very much stable. He has a very strong willpower.”In his 16-year career, Chandrasekhar played 58 Test matches capturing 242 wickets.

Enzo Maresca explains why star player Cole Palmer was left on the bench as Chelsea suffered Carabao Cup loss to Newcastle

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca says he felt there was no need to bring on Cole Palmer in the Blues' 2-0 Carabao Cup loss to Newcastle on Wednesday.

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  • Chelsea knocked out by Newcastle
  • Palmer unused substitute
  • Maresca says star was not needed
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    The Blues crashed out of the Carabao Cup at the last-16 stage, losing 2-0 to Newcastle despite beating them at Stamford Bridge a few days earlier. Maresca opted to include Palmer in the squad as a substitute and the 22-year-old did not even get the call to come on with his side trailing by two goals.

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    WHAT MARESCA SAID

    The former Leicester boss explained his decision to leave Palmer out, saying: "Simply because I think Joao [Felix] and Christo [Nkunku] were doing very good. The reason why [we brought him] was in case we needed Cole but Joao and Christo were doing well so there was no need to change."

  • THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Palmer's omission is probably deeper than what Maresca explained in his post-match press conference. The Blues are heavily reliant on the young England star and therefore must manage his minutes coming into a busy period. Palmer was also left out of Chelsea's squad for the Conference League and is seemingly being prioritised for Premier League action instead.

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    WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

    A big match is on the horizon for Maresca's side on Sunday when Chelsea take on Manchester United at Old Trafford. There is no doubting Palmer will be involved in that game as the London team look to break into the Premier League's top four.

Chelsea facing Havertz repeat with £35m star who could sign for Man City

The 2024/25 season holds real promise for Chelsea following a brilliant end to last season which saw the Blues secure European Football despite losing 11 of their 38 Premier League matches.

Mauricio Pochettino led the Blues to five consecutive wins during the closing weeks of the campaign to secure a sixth-placed finish, but it wasn’t enough for the Argentinian to keep his job.

The club parted ways with the former PSG boss, appointing Enzo Maresca as the club’s new manager, looking to build on Pochettino’s work with all the Blues’ new additions.

New Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca

The Italian has huge expectations on his shoulders to transform the club and take them back to a title race, aiming to claim their first Premier League title since the 2016/17 campaign.

However, the new manager will have a lot of big decisions to make on the future of numerous first-team members, but he simply can’t afford to let go of one talent who excelled away from Stamford Bridge last season.

The latest on Ian Maatsen's future at Chelsea

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Chelsea left-back Ian Maatsen is attracting interest from Aston Villa and Manchester City after his impressive loan stint at Borussia Dortmund last term.

The 22-year-old, who featured in the Champions League final, impressed during his temporary stint in the Bundesliga, scoring two goals and providing two assists in his 16 appearances for the German side.

The report from Bailey also states that the Dutchman has a £35m release clause in his contract, with Chelsea potentially looking to make a hefty profit on the full-back to boost their FFP status.

However, whilst it may seem a good deal to receive a hefty sum for a player with just 15 appearances for Chelsea’s first-team, Maresca can’t afford to let go of Maatsen, with the talent potentially following in the footsteps of one player who’s excelled since leaving the club.

Another Havertz situation for Chelsea

Last summer, the Blues agreed to sell midfielder Kai Havertz to rivals Arsenal for a reported £60m in an effort to boost their financial situation after a huge influx of incomings at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea forward Kai Havertz.

However, since his departure, the former Bayer Leverkusen talent has excelled under the guidance of Mikel Arteta, leaving Chelsea with a scenario of what could have been for the German had he remained with the Blues.

He’s excelled in a false nine role during the 2023/24 campaign at the Emirates, scoring 13 times in the Premier League, whilst also providing seven assists as Arsenal came within touching distance of winning the title.

Games

37

Goals

13

Assists

7

Goals + assists per 90

0.5

Chances created

46

Duels won

197

A year on from the deal, the club are presented with another precarious situation with Maatsen, especially considering the interest from another top English club in champions Manchester City.

Maresca already has Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella in the left-back area, but given his temporary stint at Dortmund, Maatsen has showcased his talents on the biggest of stages, also having the potential to improve down the line.

Ian Maatsen for Dortmund.

The "exceptional" youngster, as dubbed by former Coventry City teammate Simon Moore, will want consistent first-team minutes to be able to reach his full potential, with Maresca needing to make a bold call in keeping the Dutchman, making him his first-choice on the left-hand side.

The club have become too synonymous with offloading young talents too soon, with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah both going on to thrive in the Premier League.

Kevin De Bruyne.

Maatsen is potentially next on the list should the club decide to part ways with him this summer, but, Maresca can buck the trend this window, handing the youngster the opportunity to thrive at Stamford Bridge and cementing himself as a key player under the new management team.

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