Dec 19,2024
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has warned his players must not underestimate Shamrock Rovers in Thursday's UEFA Conference League clash at Stamford Bridge.
The Hoops have been the surprise package of the competition, going unbeaten with three wins and two draws in five matches.
The Blues have already progressed, and the visitors are guaranteed a play-off spot next February.
A positive result would give Stephen Bradley’s side the chance to finish in the automatic qualifying places.
Maresca has seen his side run up some big scores so far but is not taking the Premier Division side for granted.
"We going to try to approach always in the same way, try to do our best and win the game," he said.
"I think today in football it’s difficult to find teams that have no strengths, all the teams have something good and some things that you can try to work on that and win the game.
"I watched four or five games and I think that they are a good team.
"They try to defend as a block altogether and they have some good players in general.
"I’m quite convinced that all the games are quite difficult.
"It depends on us in the way we take that game that it can be a little bit more easy or more difficult. But for sure it will be another game that we will try to win.
Maresca watched a recording of the Champions League clash with Sparta Prague to get a view on Bradley’s men.
The Czech outfit were the strongest side the Tallaght outfit faced in Europe this year, while the Blues boss also referenced the draw with Vienna.
Maresca admits he will utilise some younger players in his squad and rest players with one eye on Sunday’s Premier League clash with Everton.
"We try to change players since we start and tomorrow is probably one more option for that.
"I said many times that I know my expectation in the way we play and also in the results."
Maresca said he believes Mykhailo Mudryk did not knowingly take a banned supplement.
The 23-year-old has missed the last five matches having returned a positive drugs test with the club confirming on Tuesday the reason for his absence, having previously claimed that he had been missing through illness.
Mudryk said in an instagram post that the results of his 'A' sample had come as a "complete shock" and insisted that he not intentionally taken a banned substance, reported in Ukrainian media to be meldonium.
"We trust Misha," said Maresca. "When this kind of thing happens you need to support your player in all aspects.
"Misha is a Chelsea player, it’s my duty to be in contact with him. Me, the club, his teammates, we are all there.
"Trust means we believe Misha."
The 23-year-old has been provisionally suspended as a result of the failed test according to the Press Association.
The Ukraine international has struggled for consistency since joining from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023 for £88m, making 53 Premier League appearances but scoring only five goals.
This season he has mainly been used in the Carabao Cup and in the Conference League for Maresca who has used him only sparingly as a substitute in the league.
The head coach said he expects Mudryk to still have a future at Stamford Bridge following any long-term suspension that may be handed down.
I think he’s going to come back, the only thing is we don’t know when," said Maresca. "The only doubt we have in thus moment but for sure he’s going to come back.
"Any player in the world when this happens, they need support. No matter if he’s 20 or 30, no matter if he’s English or Italian or Ukrainian. When this kind of things happens, we all need support. It’s not about his age or his country.
"It is my duty since we started. I try to have a quite close relation with the players, because I like it that way.
"With Misha it is exactly the same. I’m there to try to help him in anything he needs because in this moment it’s normal that he’s going need help from the club, from me, from his teammates, and we are all there to try to support."
