Enzo Maresca has publicly admitted that he feels “shame” over how he has treated Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell, who has only made one appearance this season. Despite being a Champions League winner and a regular for England, Chilwell has struggled to find a place in Maresca’s plans.
Maresca openly stated at the beginning of the season that Chilwell wouldn’t be playing much and would have difficulty securing regular minutes at Chelsea.
Although Chilwell failed to secure a transfer before the summer window closed, leaving him with limited game time, his only appearance came in a League Cup match against Barrow. Now, with the January transfer window open, the 28-year-old’s future is in limbo.
Despite his injury history and high £200k-per-week wages, there’s been little speculation about a potential move away from Stamford Bridge.
Maresca has admitted it hasn’t been easy continually leaving Chilwell out of the squad, praising his professionalism throughout the situation. “Ben has been top,” Maresca said during his pre-Bournemouth press conference. “
He’s very professional, works hard, and his behaviour has been exemplary, even though I feel shame about the circumstances.”
When asked why he hasn’t reconsidered his stance on Chilwell, Maresca explained that it’s a tactical decision. He sees players like Malo Gusto, Reece James, and Marc Cucurella bringing something different to the team.
While he acknowledges Chilwell’s skill and past successes, Maresca believes the full-back doesn’t offer the versatility he needs in his system.
Chilwell’s £45m transfer from Leicester City in 2020 now seems a distant memory, with the 107 appearances he’s made for Chelsea not enough to guarantee him a regular spot. Ex-Chelsea defender Celestine Babayaro believes Chilwell should move on in January to protect his career.
“He needs to think about his future,” Babayaro said, pointing to Chilwell’s fitness issues and lack of game time. “At his age, if he’s not playing, he needs to consider leaving.”
With Chelsea sitting fourth in the Premier League, Chilwell’s future is uncertain, and the January transfer window could be his chance to find a new club.