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Chelsea's manager, Enzo Maresca, has expressed his “regret” for not starting Josh Acheampong during their Premier League match against Leeds United on Wednesday.
Maresca also made the decision to leave Reece James and Wesley Fofana out of the squad for the trip to Elland Road.
Trevoh Chalobah was positioned at right-back, while Tosin Adarabioyo teamed up with Benoit Badiashile in the center of defense.
Reflecting on his team selection ahead of this weekend’s match against Bournemouth, Maresca acknowledged that he made an error.
He stated: “One of the regrets I have after the game is that I didn’t play Josh [Acheampong].
“The reason we opted for Trev, Tosin, and Benoit was based on our analysis of Leeds, where we noticed they frequently played long balls to [Dominic] Calvert-Lewin and [Lukas] Nmecha.
“We believed that physicality would help us win aerial duels. However, despite that strategy, we lost most of those battles.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Maresca leave Josh Acheampong out of the starting lineup?
Maresca believed that the physicality of Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Benoit Badiashile was necessary to counter Leeds United's long-ball strategy.
What changes did Maresca make to the team for the match against Leeds?
Maresca dropped Reece James and Wesley Fofana from the starting lineup, opting instead for a different defensive setup.
What did Maresca say about his team selection?
Maresca admitted that he regretted not including Josh Acheampong in the starting eleven and acknowledged that his team lost crucial aerial duels despite his strategy.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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