In Chelsea's pre-match press conference, manager Maresca answered reporters' questions on topics such as the addition of new signing Felix, the team's lineup arrangement, injuries, and the captain's selection.
Maresca spoke highly of Felix's addition to the team, describing him as a gifted player capable of playing multiple positions, including center forward in the box, winger, and attacking midfielder. However, he also made it clear that Felix will not be on the roster for tomorrow's game and that the team needs to give him some time to adapt to the new environment and tactical system.
Speaking about Gallagher's transfer options, Maresca responded in a humorous way saying that it was a question that fans needed to answer, but he also revealed that the transfer agreement had been in place for some time and was not sudden.
Regarding the team's attacking line arrangement, Maresca said that both Neto and Felix are versatile players who are able to flexibly switch between different positions, which provides the team with more tactical options. He emphasized that the team will face multiple matches as the season progresses, so it needs to make full use of every player at hand.
In terms of the injury situation, Maresca revealed that Reece James is still recovering from an injury and although he is in the matchday squad, he will not be able to play tomorrow. This is certainly a big blow for Chelsea as Reece James is an important part of the team's backline.
Finally, when it comes to captaincy, Maresca confirmed that Rees is currently the team's captain and revealed that he is considering nominating one or two more vice-captains to give more responsibility to the players. He singled out youngster Colville as having the potential to be a more versatile player in terms of personality, and that it would be beneficial for him to take a step forward in terms of taking on responsibilities such as captaincy. At the same time, he also confirmed that Enzo is one of the team's other captain's picks in Rees' absence.
