Enzo Maresca is dealing with a string of injury concerns ahead of Chelsea facing Benfica on Tuesday, including ‘small problems’ for Joao Pedro, Moises Caicedo and Andrey Santos.
The Blues are coming off back-to-back defeats in the Premier League after losing to Manchester United and then Brighton on Saturday.
Maresca’s men also lost their first Champions League assignment of the season, although it was a very difficult one away to Bayern Munich.
They look to bounce back against their former boss Jose Mourinho on Tuesday night, but the Chelsea manager is not sure yet who he will have available.
Pedro, Caicedo and Santos are all doubts at this stage, but could still prove their fitness before the clash at Stamford Bridge.
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‘We need to maintain levels, for sure, because the Champions League requires a high level,’ Maresca told a press conference on Monday.
‘We have many players out with injuries. This afternoon we will assess Andrey Santos, Caicedo and Joao Pedro. They have small problems, so we will see for tomorrow if they can be available.’
Chelsea are already without Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Liam Delap, Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana due to various fitness issues.
The Blues have also been having some disciplinary issues, receiving red cards in the defeats to both Manchester United and Brighton.
This follows red cards in a loss to Newcastle at the end of last season and in a defeat against Flamengo in the Club World Cup, with Maresca admitting he has made mistakes in dealing with his team when down to 10 men.
‘First of all, for sure, I think after reviewing the last two games, I could have done better in terms of decision. No doubt,’ he said. ‘But also for me, it is like a learning process to play with 10 players.
‘For any manager it is not something normal but it happens sometimes. In almost six months, we lost five games and four of them had red cards. The only game we lost 11v11 was Bayern Munich away.
‘We do not need to create panic. You know better than me; football is a crazy world. If you lose five games in six months and you need to say things to defend yourself, then I think it’s a crazy world.
‘Compared to last season, we all improved, the players have more experience. Me personally as a manager, I feel better than last year because I am learning. There are things for me to learn, like playing with 10 players. It is all part of the process.’
Chelsea are in need of an upturn in results, but Maresca insists there is no need to worry, saying: ‘In this moment, we need to be positive.
‘First of all because it is what the players need. Secondly because there is no reason to be negative. This morning, the club showed me in the last six months we lost five games, four of them with red cards.
‘The reality is that there is not any pressure. The pressure we have is what we know – being at Chelsea as a manager, you have to win games, no doubt.’