LONDON: Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca insisted Wednesday he was not presiding over a “mess” of a squad after the London club were involved in yet more transfer activity.

Joao Felix signed a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge, with his return from Atletico Madrid to the club where he spent an underwhelming spell on loan in the 2022/23 season helping facilitate Conor Gallagher’s move in the opposite direction.

Maresca now has one of the largest squads in the Premier League at his disposal, although he has made it clear Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell are not part of his plans.

But speaking ahead of Chelsea’s Conference League play-off against Servette, Maresca said criticism of the club’s transfer policy had been unfair.

“I am not working with 42 players, I am working with 21 players (in first-team training),” the Italian said. “It’s not a mess like it looks from outside. The other players can even have 20 years contract, it is not my point. I don’t care.”

As for the position of Sterling and Chilwell, he added: “In this moment, they are training apart (from the squad). As I said, the situation with both of them is quite clear.

“We have a big squad, for me it’s impossible to give everyone minutes so if they’re looking for minutes, probably it is better to leave. And in case they don’t leave, they have a contract here, they are Chelsea players.”

But he was understandably more upbeat about Joao Felix, with Maresca — whose side started the new Premier League season with a 2-0 defeat by champions Manchester City last weekend, saying: “He is a good player, a talent. The club already knows him from two years ago.

“He can play different positions with us, inside, as a nine, outside.”

No transfer fee was revealed for the former Benfica star, who made two appearances for Portugal at Euro 2024, but UK press reports earlier stated Chelsea had agreed to pay 40 million ($51 million) to Atletico.

Joao Felix joined Atletico in 2019 and made 131 appearances for Diego Simeone’s side, although he spent last season on loan at Barcelona.

He previously made 20 appearances in all competitions during a six-month loan spell with Chelsea, scoring four goals.

“I loved my time here before and I told my friends and family that I’d love to return to the Premier League one day,” the player told Chelsea’s official website. “To do that with Chelsea is a great feeling and I’m excited to be back.”

Earlier, Gallagher completed his permanent transfer after an intended move to the Spanish side collapsed last week when Chelsea were unable to agree a deal for Atletico striker Samu Omorodion.

Gallagher had trained alone since returning to Chelsea last week after being pictured in Spain ahead of his proposed 33 million transfer.

The 24-year-old won the 2019 Europa League with Chelsea and leaves the London side after 95 appea­rances and 10 goals.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2024