Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has hinted that he may rest senior players during the upcoming Club World Cup, warning that player fatigue is a serious concern and criticizing football’s congested calendar.
The Blues kick off their Club World Cup campaign on June 16 in Atlanta, just three weeks after the Premier League season ends and less than three weeks after their Europa Conference League final against Real Betis on May 29.
Several Chelsea players, including Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, and Levi Colwill, are also expected to feature for England in early June, giving them just six days to recover before facing Mexican side Leon in their opening match. If Chelsea advance to the final on July 13, their season would wrap up only five weeks before the 2024–25 Premier League kicks off.
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Maresca voiced his frustration over the intense schedule:
“We’ve got a game on Sunday, a European final, and then more matches—no one cares about player welfare,” he said. “If they’re tired in the U.S., they won’t play. It’s as simple as that. The number of games they’re asked to play just isn’t normal.”
The Italian manager also revealed he hadn’t spoken to England boss Thomas Tuchel about potentially excusing Chelsea players from international duty. He emphasized that the issue isn’t about money but player health:
“People say, ‘they earn a lot of money,’ but it’s not about that—it’s about health and protecting the players. I don’t think FIFA is paying attention to that.”
With the international calendar adding further strain—Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo are set to play for Argentina and Ecuador, and Malo Gusto has been called up by France—Maresca may be forced to scrap a traditional pre-season entirely to allow players some recovery time.
Maresca also acknowledged the pressure his team faces as they push for a top-five Premier League finish and a Champions League spot, admitting it’s heavier on Chelsea than on opponents like Nottingham Forest:
“At this stage, there’s pressure on everyone—but yes, probably more on us.”
