Enzo Maresca has confirmed that one Chelsea player is set to start against Leicester City, despite being at risk of receiving a two-game suspension.
Chelsea, fresh off their 1-0 win over FC Copenhagen in the first leg of their Conference League last-16 tie, will host struggling Leicester in the Premier League on Sunday.
The Blues are currently fifth in the table but have secured just three wins in their last 11 matches.
They will need to rediscover their best form if they are to secure a Champions League spot.
With the Foxes in disastrous form under Ruud van Nistelrooy, having won just three of their last 16 matches, many are predicting an easy victory for Maresca’s side before they face a series of tough fixtures.
“No, no, no. I know that they said this to me, but at this moment for us, it’s about winning games,” the Italian said in a press conference as he previewed the clash against his former club.
“We need to win games, so we cannot plan giving Moi a rest thinking that he can play Arsenal. We need to win against Leicester and then we need to focus on how we can beat Arsenal.
“It’s just game by game and we need our best players on the pitch.”
Moises Caicedo One Booking Away from Two-Match Suspension
After the second leg against Copenhagen next Thursday, Chelsea will face Arsenal and Tottenham around the March international break.
However, there is a risk that manager Enzo Maresca could be without one of his key players for the upcoming London derbies, as Moisés Caicedo is just one booking away from a two-match suspension.
Having already accumulated nine yellow cards this season, the 23-year-old defensive midfielder is walking a disciplinary tightrope.
After a challenging first season following his £97million transfer from Brighton, Caicedo has settled in at Stamford Bridge, though he remains somewhat of a yellow card magnet.
The Ecuadorian has been booked 25 times in 79 appearances for Chelsea.
Only Crystal Palace’s Will Hughes and Fulham’s Sasa Lukic have more yellow cards than Caicedo in the Premier League this season.
