A round-up of Chelsea headlines as manager Enzo Maresca stays true to his word about a young player and the Blues hold talks over adding to their recruitment team
Chelsea are growing in confidence as they aim to extend their three-match winning run this week. Enzo Maresca’s side savoured a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the weekend ahead of their meeting with Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The Blues were able to build on their momentum after defeating Liverpool before the international break. Young forward Marc Guiu has featured in the club’s last two games following a reported conversation with Maresca over his lack of minutes after being recalled from his season-long loan at Sunderland.
Chelsea have focused on signing exciting prospects in recent years and are claimed to be keen on adding another figure to their recruitment team. Former Liverpool transfer specialist David Fallows, who worked with the Reds for more than a decade, is said to be in talks.
Meanwhile, Chelsea icon Cesar Azpilicueta has reflected on his memorable spell at the club. The Spanish defender may have helped the Blues win plenty of major honours, but he has recalled when he felt that his place in the team was most under threat.
Enzo Maresca delivers on Marc Guiu promise
Having been recalled to the club following an injury to Liam Delap, Guiu is claimed to have approached Maresca to discuss how he could force his way into the team. The 19-year-old had not featured for Chelsea before his late cameo appearance against Liverpool ahead of the international break
READ MORE: Ex-Chelsea and Arsenal stars brawl in intense boxing fight as dig at Tottenham is firedREAD MORE: Enzo Maresca’s ice-cold 11-word reaction to Ange Postecoglou’s sacking at Nottingham Forest
The Athletic reports that their exchange ahead of the Liverpool win was respectful and the Chelsea boss explained that if the striker continued to work hard in training, he would be rewarded with opportunities. Maresca appeared to take Guiu’s words onboard, as he called upon him against Liverpool a day later and brought him on as a half-time substitute against Forest on Saturday.
“Guiu was good [against Forest],” Maresca told The Athletic. “I think he was on for 15 minutes against Liverpool, fighting with [Virgil] van Dijk, [Ibrahima] Konate, [Ryan] Gravenberch, and he was very good.
“Today, after one minute of the second half, he won a corner against Morato. So we need that from Marc.”
Chelsea in talks with ex-Liverpool recruitment chief
The Standard has reported that Chelsea are in talks with Liverpool’s former director of scouting and recruitment Fallows. It is explained that Fallows would take a senior leadership role, helping with scouting, as well as providing input on wider football operations.
It is claimed that he would report directly to co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, in addition to working closely with recruitment and talent co-directors Sam Jewell and Joe Shields.
Fallows previously spent 12 years at Liverpool before leaving the club in October 2024. A Liverpool club statement described his contributions as “fundamental” to building the squad that enjoyed success under Jurgen Klopp.
Cesar Azpilicueta makes Chelsea admission
Cesar Azpilicueta spent more than a decade at Chelsea, winning the Premier League, Champions League and various other major honours, before leaving in 2023. He made a total of 508 appearances but has admitted that he once feared for his place in the team after the club signed Filipe Luis from Atletico Madrid in 2014.
“Then Filipe Luis joined Chelsea, which was a… maybe the best left back at the moment,” Azpilicueta told Flashscore. “That gave me competition, that gave me a way of helping the team and bring something different and I had to step up and, yeah, I played a lot and I really enjoyed it. I played alongside John Terry on the left side, which was for me like a masterpiece of learning how to defend.”
While Azpilicueta initially worried about his spot in the side, he soon saw off his newly-arrived competition. The Brazilian full-back was sold back to Atletico just a year later, having made 26 appearances in all competitions for Jose Mourinho’s team.
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
