Why Nigeria-eligible defender was omitted from Chelsea’s Conference League squad

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has admitted that leaving Tosin Adarabioyo out of the squad for their Europa Conference League match against Servette was a mistake.

The decision, which sparked some confusion, has since been corrected, with the defender added back to the squad for the return leg in Switzerland.

Adarabioyo, who recently joined Chelsea from Fulham this summer, was one of the notable absentees from the original squad. Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol confirmed that the oversight had been addressed and that Adarabioyo would be available for the upcoming match.

Another key player left out of Chelsea’s lineup was Raheem Sterling, who was excluded from the team that faced Manchester City. This decision led to speculation about his future at Stamford Bridge. However, Maresca clarified that Sterling’s omission was purely a technical choice and not related to any performance issues.

“I spoke with Raheem before the City game. I told him he is going to struggle to get minutes with us,” Maresca explained. “Chilly [Ben Chilwell] is a lovely guy, but he is going to struggle in his position with us. If you find this brutal, it is up to you to decide.”

Maresca further added, “They [Sterling and Chilwell] are training apart. As I said, the situation is quite clear, and there is not any update on the situation. They are Chelsea players. But it’s not possible to give them all minutes. Those who want minutes, they are better off leaving.”

Ben Chilwell’s exclusion from the Europa Conference League squad has fueled rumors of a potential move away from Chelsea. Meanwhile, Conor Gallagher has already completed a transfer to Atletico Madrid, joining the Spanish club on a five-year deal.

Chelsea are reportedly hoping to secure the signing of African Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen, before the window closes.