Voicing his thoughts on Ben Chilwell, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has made it clear that the defender may benefit from moving on to another club.
Chilwell has seen his role at left-back diminished within the team’s lineup.
Throughout his four-year tenure at Chelsea, the English international has grappled with various injury setbacks.
Joining the Blues from Leicester City in 2020, Chilwell has only managed 70 appearances in the Premier League during this period.
Last season, Chilwell featured in just 13 matches for the west London club.
Despite his fondness for Chilwell, Maresca acknowledged the player’s struggle to secure a consistent spot in the squad.
During his pre-match press conference before Chelsea’s upcoming match against Manchester City on Sunday, Maresca shared, as quoted by Metro UK, “Chilly is with us, but he hasn’t been training for the past few days due to illness.”
He added, “The reason he didn’t participate in our pre-season friendly against Inter was because, while I appreciate his qualities, the issue lies in his challenge to find the optimal position.”
Maresca emphasized, “This morning, we had 22 players training, and every one of them desires to play against City on Sunday. However, it’s simply not feasible.”
He concluded, “It’s not beneficial for the players or myself when they train consistently but don’t receive any playing time.
“A decision needs to be made, and it may be more advantageous for him to seek playing time elsewhere. With the transfer window open, the situation remains fluid.”