Enzo Maresca is anxiously awaiting Chelsea’s potential entry into the Conference League — a competition that once derailed the career of a former Blues player.

Chelsea are briefly shifting focus to European duties as they gear up for the first leg of their Conference League semi-final against Djurgarden in Sweden.

They recently secured a crucial victory over Everton at Stamford Bridge, despite Enzo Maresca’s absence from the touchline. The Italian manager will return to lead the team for this upcoming clash.

With Chelsea seen as clear favourites in the competition, Maresca may opt to rotate his squad, possibly handing Tyrique George a starting opportunity. However, he’ll be demanding a stronger display than their last outing in the Conference League, where a loss to Legia Warsaw saw them jeered off the field.

One concern ahead of the match is the artificial pitch at Djurgarden’s stadium — a surface even the home side has criticised for its poor quality. The Blues are particularly cautious given past experiences; notably, Ruben Loftus-Cheek suffered a major injury on artificial turf during a 2019 charity match, which derailed his promising season and long-term form.

With key Premier League fixtures like the one against Liverpool on the horizon, Chelsea are likely to take extra precautions, especially with injury-prone players like Reece James. The team hopes to avoid any setbacks and take control of the tie early.