Robert Sanchez is set to start Chelsea’s Conference League last-16 meeting with Copenhagen, as Enzo Maresca mulls over handing Cole Palmer a first European appearance since August.
Sanchez was Maresca’s Premier League No1 during the first half of the season and did not play a minute during the group stage, but has since lost his place to Filip Jorgensen following a poor run of form.
“Robert starts tomorrow, yes,” Maresca confirmed. “Tomorrow he is going to play and we'll see. I said a few times already about Robert, it's a matter to give him different kind of games to try and help him. This is the reason why."
Palmer, meanwhile, is available for the first time since the qualifying round, having been left out of Chelsea’s group stage squad to manage his workload.
“We can change players in the squad, so we decided to add some, for instance we added Cole for the final part of the season,” Maresca said. “For sure, if he is in the squad, he can play minutes, no doubt.”
Maresca often left key players in London during the group stage but has named his strongest available travelling squad, with 21 players making the trip.
It includes academy graduates Shim Mhueka, Josh Acheampong and Tyrique George, as well as the fit-again Benoit Badiashile. Nicolas Jackson, Marc Guiu, Noni Madueke and Romeo Lavia remain long-term absentees.
Wesley Fofana returned to the match day squad for Chelsea’s win over Southampton at the end of last month but will have to wait to make his injury comeback.
The centre-back is ineligible having been left out of the Blues’s squad for the league phase and then again off a list of the maximum three mid-season additions ahead of the knockout stage. As well as Palmer, Trevor Chalobah and January signing Mathis Amougou were added to Maresca’s squad.
Chelsea predicted XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Acheampong, Badiashile, Cucurella; Caicedo, Dewsbury-Hall; Sancho, Palmer, George; Nkunku
Injured: Guiu, Jackson. Madueke, Lavia, Kellyman
Unavailable: Mudryk, Fofana
Time and date: 5.45pm GMT on Thursday 6 March 2025
Venue: Parken Stadium
TV channel and live stream: TNT Sports
