Chelsea players have dropped team news hints ahead of the game against Gent(Image: PA)

Chelsea stars drop early team news hints ahead of Europa Conference League clash vs Gent

Chelsea will kick-off their Europa Conference League campaign at home to Gent after edging past Servette in the qualifying round

03 Oct 2024, 08:52 by Bruna Reis · football.london

Chelsea will go in search of their first Europa Conference League win when they take on Gent at Stamford Bridge tonight (8pm kick-off).

Enzo Maresca is expected to make a number of changes to the side that defeated Brighton 4-2 in the Premier League last weekend. Cole Palmer, who bagged a hat-trick in that game, has been left out of the squad along with Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia and Ben Chilwell.

"We try to share minutes with all of them," Maresca explained his decision. "In this moment, it looks like we have players playing in the Premier League and in the cup competitions, but it is not like this. In this moment it is like this but in general it won't be like this.

"We try to give all the players the opportunity and against Barrow, they all did a very good game. Hopefully tomorrow we can do the same."

Summer signing Filip Jogensen is expected to start in goal while Robert Sanchez is rested. After being left out of the matchday squad for Brighton, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall will be available for selection.

Maresca added: "For Kiernan, and all the players that were out of the squad, there was not a physical problem [against Brighton]. It [being out of the squad] happened with Kiernan last week and will happen with different players. I am very happy with Kiernan and it was just a decision I made. It is the bad part of my job, it's not the one I prefer but it’s part of my role."

Ahead of the clash, Noni Madueke posted a pre-match graphic preview of the fixture while Marc Cucurella posted a picture with a simple message: "We are ready for tomorrow." Historically, this suggests that they will be involved in some capacity – whether that's starting or simply named in the matchday squad.

Madueke started in the Europa Conference League qualifying round against Servette while Cucurella was named on the bench. The Spaniard will be eyeing his first start in the competition.

Elsewhere, Pedro Neto, Marc Guiu, Enzo Fernandez, Joao Felix and Moises Caicedo posted training pictures. The players were in high spirits and smiles were on show.

Neto and Felix have often come on as substitutes in the Premier League this season and will be targeting their first starts. As for Guiu, he was not named in Maresca's matchday squad for the last two games, against West Ham and Brighton respectively.

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