Maresca Orders Chelsea to Rest Before Arsenal

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has issued a clear mandate to his players: prioritize immediate rest and energy recovery ahead of their crucial Premier League clash with rivals Arsenal this weekend. The instruction follows a demanding midweek fixture.

The Blues are set to host Arsenal on Sunday at Stamford Bridge. The fixture comes just days after Chelsea successfully secured a 3-0 victory against Barcelona in their UEFA Champions League match on Tuesday night.

Speaking immediately after the impressive win over the Spanish giants, Maresca disclosed the specific instructions he gave his squad for the short turnaround. He told the players to “completely switch off” for the next 48 hours.

“I have told the players, next 48 hours, completely switch off, ‘Have a rest. Recover the energy,” the manager emphasized, highlighting the physical toll of elite competition.

Maresca stressed that the most critical focus right now is recuperation before turning their attention to the upcoming derby. “Recover the energy. That, in this moment, is the most important thing,” he reiterated.

He confirmed the team will shift its focus to their domestic opponent later in the week. “Then, on Friday, we start to think about Arsenal,” he stated, outlining the brief preparation window.

Maresca believes maintaining their winning momentum will aid the recovery process. “We need to keep the momentum because it’s very nice and it is much easier to recover energy when you win games,” he concluded in his post-match interview.