Chelsea will be without Pedro Neto for their mammoth 5,000-mile round trip to Azerbaijan this week. Manager Enzo Maresca confirmed the winger won't travel with the squad for Wednesday's Champions League clash against Qarabag in Baku.
Neto appeared to have a minor calf issue during Chelsea's 1-0 win against Tottenham on Saturday. Maresca isn't taking any chances with the Portuguese star's fitness.
"Not a problem, just a small issue. We'll try to protect him," Maresca explained in Tuesday's press conference. "He's not involved in tomorrow's game."
The demanding travel schedule is forcing Chelsea to think carefully about their lineup. The team won't return to London until 6 a.m. on Friday, giving them minimal recovery time before hosting Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday evening.
"For sure, we need to rotate some of the players," Maresca admitted. "We'll try to adapt and do our best."
Qarabag Poses Serious Threat
Don't be fooled by Qarabag's relatively low profile. The Azerbaijan champions sit 13th in the Champions League standings with six points – the same tally as Chelsea, who are 11th.
Maresca clearly respects their European performances this season. "They beat Benfica and Copenhagen. They were beating Bilbao and lost in the end. It'll be a tough game for sure, for different reasons," he warned.
The Blues boss also expressed admiration for Qarabag's manager Gurban Gurbanov. The long-serving coach has led the club to an impressive 11 Azerbaijan Premier League titles since taking charge in 2008.
"Something I've never seen. It's unbelievable. 17 years with the same club, it's amazing," Maresca said.
Chelsea's European campaign has been a mixed bag so far. After losing their opener at Bayern Munich, they've bounced back with victories over Benfica and Ajax.
A win against Qarabag would give them nine points and likely secure a top-16 position. This would significantly boost their chances of advancing in the competition – vital for both their prestige and potential earnings.
Injury Updates Ahead of Busy Schedule
Chelsea fans hoping for Cole Palmer's swift return may need to temper expectations. Maresca couldn't confirm whether the midfielder will recover from his groin injury in time for the crucial home clash against Barcelona on November 25.
"Cole isn't taking any sessions with the team," Maresca revealed. The creative midfielder's absence continues to impact Chelsea's attacking fluidity.
There is positive news regarding defender Benoit Badiashile. "Benoit can probably be available after the international break and for us that's huge news," the manager added.
For bettors, Chelsea's squad rotation and travel fatigue are important factors to consider. The Blues remain favorites against Qarabag, but their quick turnaround before facing Wolves could impact performance in that Premier League fixture.
With Neto sidelined and potential rotation throughout the squad, we might see some unexpected names on the scoresheet. This creates interesting opportunities for first goalscorer and anytime scorer markets in both upcoming matches.
