Enzo Maresca explained Chelsea’s pre-match training strategy at Cobham before their challenging Champions League away game against Qarabag in Azerbaijan, balancing recovery and travel logistics.
Enzo Maresca explained the logic behind Chelsea training at Cobham the day before their 5,000-mile flight to Azerbaijan, prioritising recovery over early travel to tackle logistical and competitive challenges posed by Qarabag.
The Italian manager warned his side not to underestimate Qarabag, describing them as “a good team, organised, intense in the way they press,” despite the long-haul journey.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has detailed the strategic planning involved in the club’s UEFA Champions League trip to Azerbaijan to face Qarabag, citing the challenges posed both by the opponent and the arduous travel schedule.
The Blues faced media scrutiny after training at Cobham on Tuesday, the day before their five-hour, 5,000-mile flight to Baku.
Maresca defended the decision, explaining it was vital to prioritise player recovery following the weekend clash with Tottenham. The coaching staff opted to maximize use of the state-of-the-art facilities at their training base to ensure optimal preparation despite the impending logistical hurdles, which include a four-hour time difference. The team will attempt to remain on English time to minimise disruption.
The Italian provided a direct quote on the planning: “We used yesterday [Monday] to recover after Tottenham, and it was important to be at our training ground and use our facilities for the treatment the players need. If we went there [to Baku], it wouldn’t be the same.
So, we try to balance being ready for the game and recovering the energy [after Tottenham].” He acknowledged the tight turnaround: “We know the long flight, they are four hours ahead, and then we will arrive at 6am on Thursday morning and have a game on Saturday night, but it’s the schedule and we try to adapt.”
Turning his attention to the Azerbaijani side, Maresca warned that Qarabag should not be underestimated, pointing out their competitive record in the group stage.
“Qarabag have won two games like us in the Champions League, and they were also winning the other one but lost,” Maresca stated. He described them as “a good team, organised, intense in the way they press,” and expects a “tough game, especially at home.”
Maresca concluded that the fixture requires full focus: “I don’t think it’s about being the favourite or not. It’s the way we try to deal with all the details of the game.”