Chelsea’s Tactical Decisions: Palmer, Lavia, and Fofana Left Out of Conference League Squad

Many people were shocked when Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca made some surprising squad selections for the Conference League group phase, leaving out Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia, and Wesley Fofana.

Cole Palmer was Chelsea's best player in the 2023/2024 season, in which he had 27 goals and 15 assists in all competitions and helped the Blues qualify for the Conference League. 

Apart from his impressive goal involvement ratio, his presence in the middle of the park exuded confidence and inspired his teammates at the business end of the campaign, just as Marc Cucurella rightly mentioned in an interview. 

“[Palmer’s] football brain works so quickly, he is always a step ahead of the rest.“ [He made an impact from the start, and I hope he carries on like this,” the Spanish defender said. 

Snubbing a player of such importance didn't sit well with some ex-footballers and pundits who took to the media to pour out their anger and frustrations. Former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor found it disrespectful and wanted some explanations behind Maresca's decision. 

 Chelsea’s Strategy for Workload Management

According to the Italian manager, the decision was a strategy to manage players’ workload and prevent injuries in the course of the season. Considering Chelsea's current squad depth, the players’ injury history, and the club's extensive activities in the summer transfer market, Maresca's approach is understandable. 

Fofana's injury history leaves so much to be desired, having missed 26 games for club and country due to a knee injury in the 2023/24 season.

He was equally unavailable throughout the 2023/24 campaign after suffering a Cruciate Ligament Tear before the US pre-season tour. 

Like Fofana, Romeo Lavia was a fringe part of Mauricio Pochettino’s team throughout the 2023/24 campaign due to ankle and hamstring problems. The Belgian midfielder was sidelined for 272 days, missing 43 games. 

Though Palmer has a better injury record, playing too many matches could affect his performance and physical condition in the long run, just as it was with Joe Aribo, who seemingly lost his form after playing 70 games in the 2021-22 season. 

Additionally, the West London club had 13 new arrivals before the start of this season, taking their first-team roster to over 30 players.

It is only wise that the manager rotate the squad, even if it means resting some of his key players who will play a significant role in the domestic league. 

Interestingly, the omission of the big names will give room for youngsters and fringe players to showcase their potential, convince the tactician, and lay claim to a permanent spot in the team. Talking of youngsters and fringe players, here is a list of five players who could replace the omitted ones and become key figures for the Blues this season.

 5 Rising Stars and Fringe Players Who Could Make Their Mark in the Conference League

Based on their development, recent performances, playing style, and strengths, here are five emerging and fringe players who could step up in the absence of Palmer, Lavia, and Fofana. 

 Josh Acheampong

Josh Acheampong is one of the brightest youngsters in the Chelsea developmental team and is on the verge of breaking into the senior team having trained with them on many occasions.

The young English defender, who joined the Blues at 8, has progressed through the ranks and is currently with the Under-21 side. Born in 2003, the centre-back’s versatility makes him a great utility player for coach Suleiman, who featured him in the centre-back, right-back, and wing-back positions in the 2022/23 Premier League 2 campaign.

Though his versatility and confidence remain his greatest strength, Acheampong is also known for stunning goals, such as the breathtaking strike from distance against Tottenham in the under-18 Premier League in the same season. 

He also scored a brilliant headed goal against Manchester United in the 2023/24 league campaign before signing his first professional career with the Blues. 

Meanwhile, Acheampong's scoring prowess isn't limited to club football, as he found the back of the net in England's 10-0 win over New Caledonia at the 2023 under-17 World Cup tournament in Indonesia.

If given the chance, Acheampong is one player Chelsea fans should monitor closely during the Conference League group stage matches.

 Tyrique George

Another youngster hoping to seize this opportunity is none other than the exciting midfielder Tyrique George, who has been knocking on the door of first-team football since Mauricio Pochettino's era. 

Having been on the substitute bench three times in the 2023/2024 campaign, the teenager finally made his senior debut for Chelsea in a 1–2 defeat against Servette. 

Known for his ability to score goals and operate from both flanks, the 18-year-old attacking midfielder reportedly found the back of the net 30 times for the U18 and U21 teams in the 2023/2024 campaign. 

He has already started the 2024/25 Premier League Cup in fine form following his brilliant second-half hat-trick against Brentford U21.

He is also known for his dribbling skills, confidence, and technical shots, which were all evident in his goals against the young Bees. George will hope his versatility and impressive ball control will capture Maresca's attention just as it did with Noni Madueke.

 Carney Chukwuemeka

Bought from Aston Villa before the 2022/2023 season, Carney Chukwuemeka is another player who might benefit from the manager's bold decision. 

The English midfielder hasn't lived up to expectations at Stamford Bridge due to injuries, while the arrival of Cole Palmer and Lavia also reduced his playing time. At the time of this writing, Chukwuemeka has yet to play a game for the Blues in the ongoing campaign. 

The 20-year-old needs some resurgent performances to bring his Chelsea career back on track, or he will be surplus to requirement in the next transfer window. 

Interestingly, the omission of both players from the midfield will create an opening for the England midfielder to prove his worth. He would love to remind everyone of the quality he displayed when he was at Villa Park, where he was one of the league's brightest teenagers. 

 Cesare Casadei

Tagged as one of the most promising Italian talents of his generation, Cesare Casadei is a modern midfielder who could exploit Maresca's decision to his advantage. 

The well-rounded player combines exceptional physical attributes with impressive technical skills, making him fit for different positions in the midfield. He can feature on both sides of a midfield trio as an attacking midfielder or in a holding role.

Having spent significant time on loan at Reading and Leicester City, Casadei has gathered enough top-flight experience to succeed with the 2012 Champions League winners. 

 Kiernan Dewsbury -Hall

Though the England international isn't a youngster from the Cobham Academy, he is one of the bit-part players eager to prove his worth and claim a permanent spot in Maresca's trusted starting XI. 

Dewsbury-Hall has found game-time so hard to come since his £30 million move from Leicester City in the summer transfer window, no thanks to intense competition from established stars like Enzo Fernandez, Lavia, and Caicedo. 

Luckily for the former Leicester City midfielder, Lavia and Palmer's omission signifies a ray of hope as he might be involved in Chelsea's Conference League games. 

Analysing his playing style, the England box-to-box midfielder is known for his aggressiveness out of possession and the ability to drive forward with the ball, break opponents' attacks, or launch an attack from a deep-lying position through his impressive long-range passing accuracy. 

With 12 goals and 14 assists in the 2023/24 campaign, it's safe to say that Chelsea will need Dewsbury-Hall's newly-found goalscoring prowess in Europe since Palmer—the most prolific player in the team—didn't make the list. 

Having worked with the 26-year-old defender in the Championship, Maresca knows Dewsbury-Hall's quality, and we expect the midfielder to play a role in Palmer and Lavia's absence. 

 Opportunity Beckons for Chelsea’s Next Generation

By leaving out Cole Palmer and Lavia from the Conference League squad, Enzo Maresca has once again shown that he has a good plan for everyone in the team. 

With this decision, the key players will get some rest, the fringe ones will get another chance to impress, while the promising youngsters will show their worth and launch their careers in one of the fastest-growing European competitions. 

However, ignoring three experienced players from the squad is a risky call that could jeopardise his job if things go south. He might lose his job, especially if they don't progress to the knockout stage and their position in the league isn't encouraging.