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Chelsea fans rage at Enzo Maresca's decision to play £38.5 million defender after disaster performance against Newcastle: "I have no words"

Enzo Maresca.
Enzo Maresca. (Deposit Photos)

Chelsea fans are not happy with Enzo Maresca's decision to play Axel Disasi at right-back in Wednesday's 2-0 EFL Cup defeat to Newcastle United.


Disasi scored an own-goal and made a number of other glaring errors as the Blues were knocked out of the tournament by the Magpies at St. James' Park.


The Frenchman has played at right-back for Chelsea on six other occasions this term and endured similar difficulties, most notably in September's 1-0 win over Bournemouth, when he was dragged off after just an hour.


"Disasi I have no words," wrote one Chelsea fan on X, the platform previously known as Twitter. "No words at all. I wonder why Maresca keeps playing him as a RB, or even at all."


Another wrote: "Maresca persisting with Disasi at right-back despite the fact that he's never had a good game there is a choice."


One fan even joked that Maresca should be "docked a week’s wages every time he picks Disasi at right-back."



Others pointed out that neither Malo Gusto or Reece James – Chelsea's first and second-choice right-backs – were named in the squad for the trip to Newcastle.


"I don't understand why Disasi is starting and Gusto isn't in the squad," one fan wrote, while another penned: "Not the first time Maresca decides to play Disasi over two natural right-backs."


Axel Disasi.
Axel Disasi. (Deposit Photos)

Chelsea's defeat to Newcastle on Wednesday came just three days after the Blues had beaten Eddie Howe's side 2-1 on home turf.


Both Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer were on the scoresheet on Sunday, with the win lifting Maresca's side into fifth place in the Premier League.

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