Chelseavs.Gent

Having earned a spot in this season's Europa Conference League, the Blues find themselves with a far more hectic schedule than they experienced in 2023-24.

As a result, as many as 28 different players have been used in their opening nine matches of the season, with only Reece James, Omari Kellyman and Deivid Washington yet to be used.

Maresca has generally been managing the run of matches by heavily rotating his team should Chelsea have a midweek fixture.

Mass alterations were made for the two fixtures with Servette in the Europa Conference League playoff and the EFL Cup tie with Barrow last week.

Nevertheless, Maresca has dismissed the perception that he will continue to specifically use a different set of players for various cup games.

What has Maresca had to say?

With Chelsea having accumulated 13 points from their last five Premier League outings, it is realistic to predict that 11 changes could be made for the Europa Conference League contest with Gent on Thursday.

However, Maresca has stated that there is competition for places, essentially to start in Premier League matches over the EFL Cup and in Europe.

Speaking to reporters, the Italian said: "We try to share minutes with all of them. In this moment, it looks like we have players playing in the Premier League and in the cup but it is not like this.

"In this moment it is like this but in general it won't be like this. We try to give them the opportunity. Against Barrow, they all did a very good game and hopefully tomorrow we can do the same."

Who are lacking Premier League minutes?

Despite starting the first Premier League game of the season, Christopher Nkunku remains with just 118 minutes to his name in the Premier League.

Joao Felix has accumulated just 109 minutes across four substitute outings, while Mykhaylo Mudryk has just the 81 minutes.

Midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall did not make the squad for Saturday's game with Brighton & Hove Albion and has just 44 minutes of top-flight football in 2024-25.