Enzo Maresca admits Chelsea disadvantage before Champions League clash at Bayern Munich
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(Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media/Imago)
Ciaran Morrison
Wed 17 September 2025 16:45, UK
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca feels the Blues are already at a disadvantage before they’ve even kicked off their Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.
Maresca leads the club back into the Champions League for the first time since the 2022-23 campaign after coming fourth in the Premier League table last season.
Chelsea won the Club World Cup after beating Champions League holders PSG in the final during the summer.
Despite coming into the match unbeaten, Chelsea’s 2-2 draw at Brentford means Maresca’s team are four points off leaders Liverpool in the league table.
Credit: Imago
Nicolas Jackson joined Bayern Munich on loan from Chelsea on deadline day and the striker will be able to play against his parent club.
Maresca therefore feels Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany can get insider information on Chelsea via Jackson.
As per The Guardian [17 September], Maresca said: “It probably can be a small advantage because he can ask Nicolas the way we work, the way we try to prepare a game.”
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“Nicolas was with us for one entire season so he knows exactly the way we approach games.”
Nicolas JacksonStatsAppearances37Goals13Assists6Nicolas Jackson’s 2024/25 stats at Chelsea in all competitions.
Jackson was the leading striker under Maresca last season, before the Italian replaced the 24-year-old with Joao Pedro and Liam Delap.
Credit: Imago
Though Jackson could help Kompany prepare his Bayern Munich side for the game, it is likely the striker will not start.
Chelsea will have to combat former Spurs striker Harry Kane instead, who spearheads a lethal Bayern Munich forward line.
Maresca should be more concerned about how his Chelsea team are going to keep a clean sheet at the Allianz Arena.
Cole Palmer has been told he must start against Bayern, whilst Estevao could also return to boost the Chelsea attack, though those players could have little say in proceedings if the Blues’ defence is not at its best.