Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca faces task ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp hated

Chelsea are set to face a challenge no manager relishes – playing at 12.30pm after an international break. With players returning at different times due to their respective country’s fixtures, the Blues have limited time to prepare for their Saturday afternoon clash with Leicester City.

Enzo Maresca will be overseeing a large group at Cobham, but not all of his squad have returned yet. Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, both on international duty in South America, are expected back today (Thursday).

Their readiness for proper training sessions remains uncertain. This issue has been a common gripe among Premier League managers recently, as TV broadcasters’ scheduling often results in a 12.30pm (UK time) kick-off on Saturdays.

Jurgen Klopp, former Liverpool manager, was notably critical of this early start time. However, Chelsea have a strong track record in these early post-international break matches, having won three out of the last five.

Interestingly, two of those victories were against Leicester.

The last time this scenario unfolded was in November 2021, almost three years ago to the day, when Chelsea secured a comfortable 3-0 victory at the King Power Stadium. Antonio Rudiger, N’Golo Kante and Christian Pulisic were the goal scorers for the visitors.

Prior to that, Chelsea clinched a 2-0 win against Newcastle United on Tyneside, with an own goal from Federico Fernandez and a strike from Tammy Abraham.

However, Chelsea’s only defeat in their last five 12.30 kick-offs following an international break was a 5-2 loss to West Bromwich Albion in April 2021.

Despite an early lead from Pulisic, Thiago Silva’s red card allowed West Brom to claw back into the game with goals from Matheus Pereira, Callum Robinson and Mbaye Diagne. Mason Mount’s second-half goal served as mere consolation.

About two-and-a-half years prior, Chelsea managed a draw with Manchester United thanks to a late equaliser from Ross Barkley at Stamford Bridge. Anthony Martial had given United a 2-1 lead in the second half after Rudiger opened the scoring.

The other Leicester victory occurred in October 2016 at Stamford Bridge, marking a comfortable win in Chelsea’s last Premier League title-winning season. Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Victor Moses scored to secure a 3-0 victory for the west Londoners under Antonio Conte.

Maresca would relish a similar outcome this Saturday.