Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca, has released the Blues team update ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 quarter final match against Palmeiras on Saturday 5 July, 2025.
English side, Chelsea, and Brazilian side, Palmeiras, will play for a spot in the semi finals of the tournament, at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at 02:00(WAT) on Saturday.
On Romeo Lavia’s fitness, the Italian manager, said, he has not made any decision yet on whether to field the Belgian midfielder or not
According to the the Club’s official website, in his pre-match comments, Maresca said:
On Romeo Lavia:
“We will try tomorrow. He had a small problem at the end of the last game against Benfica.
“It’s just a muscle problem and tomorrow we will see if he’s fit. Otherwise we will find different solutions because Moi is also suspended. So we will need to find different solutions.”
Joao Pedro:
“Joao Pedro’s situation is a bit different. He was on holiday and even if he was working, it’s not the same working by yourself compared to working with the team.
“We are very happy with Joao in the last two days he has worked with us. We will see if we need him tomorrow and if we have the chance to give him some minutes, we will give him some minutes.”
On Cole Palmer:
“Cole can play on both sides. He played against Benfica in the left pocket; he used to play in the right pocket. He just changed right to left. In many games in the season, he played in the left pocket.
“Against Benfica, he started a little wider to come inside the pocket. But Cole’s position was exactly the same as last season, the only difference was he was in the left pocket rather than the right.”
