Reports indicate that a Chelsea player has been left out of Enzo Maresca’s squad for the upcoming Conference League match against Panathinaikos.
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Chelsea is set to face the Greek club on Thursday evening in Athens, aiming to maintain their flawless record in this season’s tournament. They secured a 4-2 victory against Belgian team Gent earlier this month.
Maresca made the bold choice to exclude several key players from registration for the competition, prioritizing their fitness for other tournaments… Continue Reading
Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia, and Wesley Fofana were not included in the final 27-man squad selected by the Italian coach.
Now, Maresca has been informed to exclude another player.
According to The Athletic, right-back Josh Acheampong has been told by club officials that he won’t participate in Chelsea’s senior or reserve teams until he signs a new contract to stay at Stamford Bridge.
The 18-year-old England youth international is highly regarded by the club and recently made a 27-minute appearance in Chelsea’s 5-0 Carabao Cup victory over Barrow last month.
His current deal runs until 2026, and while the club has initiated discussions for an extension, no agreement has been reached yet.
In his pre-match press conference, Maresca voiced his frustration regarding the situation and lamented Acheampong’s unavailability for selection.
He said: “To be honest, I feel a bit of shame for Josh because I think these kinds of games can be an opportunity for him.
“I think Josh potentially can become a top player. He is still 18, so still very young. So many things can change for him, but he can potentially be very important for Chelsea.
“It’s so important for the club that our intention is not to lose him. The first thing we need to do is find a solution for his future.
“For him, I don’t know if the people who are trying to solve the problem, if they are helping him or not.
“I really like Josh, and I would really like to have him here with us. But it is not possible.”
