NEWS

Chelsea Monitor Squad Fitness Ahead of Tottenham Clash

Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer

Chelsea will be assessing several first-team players ahead of Saturday’s Premier League trip to Tottenham, a match for which fit-again striker Liam Delap will be unavailable due to suspension.

The Blues secured a narrow 4-3 victory over Wolves in the Carabao Cup, a game in which several regular starters were rested. Delap made his long-awaited return from injury but was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in just 25 minutes, highlighting the fine margins of fitness and match readiness.

Manager Enzo Maresca also revealed following the 2-1 defeat to Sunderland that his squad continues to manage a number of minor injuries, making squad selection a delicate task ahead of the Tottenham fixture.

Latest Chelsea Injury Updates

Joao Pedro
The forward played 85 minutes against Sunderland and was substituted late in the game, showing no immediate signs of injury. However, Maresca confirmed that Joao Pedro has been managing a minor knock, which has limited his ability to train fully with the squad.

“Joao has not been training every day because he is managing a little injury,” Maresca said. “Moises Caicedo is the same, and Enzo Fernandez is exactly the same.”

This cautious approach ensures the key midfield and attacking players remain available and fit for selection while avoiding aggravation of existing issues.

Looking Ahead

Chelsea’s medical and coaching staff will continue closely monitoring player fitness in the coming days, making final squad decisions based on recovery progress. With a demanding fixture schedule, Maresca must balance rest, rotation, and competitive readiness to maintain performance levels across all competitions.

“We have four or five players that, unfortunately, because of some problems, they cannot work every day and they try to make the effort to play the game.

“So, Joao, in some games, has been better. Today he struggled a little bit, but today, I think, overall, all the players struggled today. So, it’s not just about Joao.”

Cole Palmer

Cole Palmer remains a number of weeks away from a return, having already missed a month with a persistent and troublesome groin injury.

Maresca initially said Palmer would be able to return soon after the recent international break, but that date was pushed back by six weeks, meaning he is unlikely to play again until December.

“I was wrong. Unfortunately, he needs to be out probably six more weeks,” Maresca said.

“Yes, absolutely [he still doesn’t need surgery]. We try just to protect Cole as much as we can and the most important thing is that.