Enzo Maresca’s press conference today had an upbeat tone, as expected from a coach leading a team that’s been hitting all the right notes. When asked about any new injury concerns, the Italian coach had a simple, confident response: “No,” before adding a slight disclaimer.
“Finally, we are all available. [Apart from] the suspended ones,” Maresca clarified.
The “suspended ones” in question are Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella, both sidelined after receiving their fifth yellow cards in the previous match. This means Maresca will need to adjust his lineup for a challenging away clash against Liverpool at Anfield this weekend, which could leave the team a bit weaker than usual.
However, Maresca wasn’t about to let that dampen the mood. He dismissed any concerns with a tone of determination:
“Yeah, it’s not a problem. I’ve said since we started: I’m very happy with the squad, very happy with the players we are using. Since we started, we have tried to share the minutes with all of the competition. We have two suspended players and we are going to find different players that can play.”
Rather than offering excuses, Maresca projected confidence. He wasn’t about to lower his team’s spirits ahead of such a critical match. Plus, it’s not like this reshuffle has caught him off guard. The team has had over two weeks to prepare, even though Cucurella’s likely replacement, Renato Veiga, has just returned from a successful international break with Portugal.
Facing Liverpool at Anfield is always going to be a tough task, but the loss of key players doesn’t come at the best time. The consistency in selection that has fueled their success this season will be tested just when they need it most.
