Maresca Successfully Navigates Squad Balancing Act as Chelsea Embraces Long-Term Strategy Italian manager Enzo Maresca has made an impressive start at Chelsea, despite facing the challenge of managing a squad that appears to have an excess of players. The situation, however, remains precarious. For Malo Gusto, there was a sense of apprehension as he awaited the announcement of Chelsea's lineup for the Stamford Bridge derby against Arsenal. In the previous match, a 1-1 draw against Manchester United, Gusto had been substituted at halftime, with Marc Cucurella stepping in at left-back and Reece James shifting to his preferred right-back position. Gusto found himself on the sidelines, as Cucurella was in good form and James, the club captain and a fan favorite, was finally back in action after recovering from hamstring issues. It seemed likely that both Cucurella and James would start against Arsenal, leaving Gusto's prospects uncertain. Maresca's ability to balance the squad while maintaining competitive performance will be crucial as Chelsea looks to solidify its position in the league.