Maresca admits Chelsea will miss Moises Caicedo against Leeds

VIDEO SHOWS: PRESS CONFERENCE COMMENTS FROM CHELSEA MANAGER ENZO MARESCA SHOWS: STOKE D'ABERNON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (DECEMBER 2, 2025) (AGENCY POOL – Access all) (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHELSEA MANAGER, ENZO MARESCA, ON REPLACING MOISES CAICEDO, SAYING: 1. "For sure, again, we are better team with Cole [Palmer], we are better team with Moises, we are better team with Levi [Colwill]. But when this player are not available we try and find solution. We did the same thing with Levi, we did the same thing when Cole was out, and now we have to do something different because of Moises."  2. WHITE FLASH  3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHELSEA MANAGER, ENZO MARESCA, ON POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS, SAYING: "Yeah Andrey [Santos] is ready, his position once again is playing as a six, like Moises position. But he is ready, we have more option, we have also Reece [James], we can have different position. I think one that can play good in that position is Josh [Acheampong], but we'll see." 4. WHITE FLASH  5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHELSEA MANAGER, ENZO MARESCA, ON COLE PALMER, SAYING: "No he is available. The last game he was on the bench. For sure, it was more complicated for Cole because now he needs to come back in terms of also fitness condition. He is available, he can start the game, the idea with him is to start giving minutes until he can, you know, play 90 minutes." 6. WHITE FLASH  7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHELSEA MANAGER, ENZO MARESCA, ON REECE JAMES' VERSATILITY,  SAYING: " Yeah, I think he can play in both positions, he has been fullback all his life, he also has played as a midfielder but I think he can be good in both positions. When we decide for him as a midfielder, most of the time it's also when we want physicality in terms of midfielder, when we face some teams that are strong in the middle, so it depends a little bit the game plan, but as you said he's doing very well in both positions." 8 WHITE FLASH  9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHELSEA MANAGER, ENZO MARESCA, ON NEXT FIXTURES SAYING: "Yeah I think Leeds and Bournemouth both games, especially away, they are difficult for Chelsea but they are difficult for any team. Now they are going to be a different game compared to Barcelona, Arsenal, and we need to be ready, we need to try to win both if we can, thinking that we always go game by game, so the first one is tomorrow and then we start to focus on the next one." STORY: Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca admits his side will miss the presence of Moises Caicedo in their Premier League match against Leeds on Wednesday (December, 3). The midfielder was suspended for three games after he was shown a red card in Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Sunday (November, 30). "For sure we are better team with Cole [Palmer], we are better team with Moises, we are better team with Levi [Colwill]. But when this player are not available we try and find solution." Maresca told media on Tuesday (December, 2). Maresca also revealed Cole Palmer is available to start match, following an extended-stint on the sideline with injury.  (Production: Lucy Thomson)

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