“England forward Cole Palmer, along with midfielder Romeo Lavia and defender Wesley Fofana, have been intentionally left out to manage their workloads. Chelsea is expected to play around 80 matches this season across five competitions.
The decision to rest star player Palmer during the group stage of Europe’s third-tier competition was strategic, while Lavia and Fofana continue their recovery from long-term injuries. The trio can be re-registered for the knockout rounds on February 6, when squads can be resubmitted.
In their place, young midfielders Cesare Casadei and Carney Chukwuemeka, along with striker Marc Guiu, have been selected as Chelsea seeks to distribute minutes among fringe players in a competition where they are considered favorites to win.
Left-back Ben Chilwell, however, has been dropped and remains on the periphery at Stamford Bridge. Manager Enzo Maresca has informed the England defender that he has no future at Chelsea, and Chilwell was offered to several Premier League clubs over the summer.
It is unlikely that Chilwell will feature for Chelsea again this season, despite the club’s involvement in the Premier League, Carabao Cup, FA Cup, Conference League, and the expanded Club World Cup in June 2025. There are even doubts about whether the 27-year-old will train with Maresca’s first-team squad, amid reports of a potential move to Turkey, where the transfer window remains open.
Chelsea has faced criticism for stockpiling players during the transfer window, with the squad reaching 42 senior players at one point this summer. Some have since been sold, reducing the roster to around 36 players, including a few inexperienced academy graduates.
Meanwhile, Tottenham has excluded defenders Djed Spence and Sergio Reguilon from their Europa League squad. They were only able to register 23 players instead of the usual 25 due to a lack of club-trained options. While Spence has returned to the first team after loan stints at Leeds and Genoa, Reguilon may still depart the club.”
