The head coach of Chelsea Football Club Enzo Maresca gave an update on the fitness of Liam Delap and Willian Esteavo ahead of the busy festive games in the Premier League.
The Italian was speaking during his pre-match press conference ahead of the game against the most in-form team in the Premier League, Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, December 27, 2025.
Delap, who had been sidelined with a shoulder issue, has made good progress in his recovery and is available once again. Maresca expressed his delight at having the young forward back, highlighting Delap’s physical presence and work rate as valuable assets to the squad. His return comes at a crucial time, with Chelsea looking to add more intensity and depth to their forward line.
Brazil international Estevao has also shaken off a minor muscle problem that kept him out of recent matches. The Chelsea boss revealed that the Brazilian talent trained fully with the group and showed no signs of discomfort also admitting that while the club will continue to manage Estevao carefully, his availability provides another creative option in attacking areas.
Maresca also highlighted that squad rotation could play a key role in the coming weeks, and having more players ready gives him greater tactical flexibility as the Blues push for positive results