Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca offers blunt response to possible 'regret' over Ben Chilwell after Conference League snub

The left-back was told by Maresca that he should leave during the summer transfer window as he was not part the new Chelsea coach's plans. No transfer materialised, however, and Chilwell made his first appearance of the season in the Carabao Cup last week.

Maresca indicated that he had made a mistake when he decided to freeze the England international out of his squad, adding: "Probably yes; probably no. I am here to make decisions. Sometimes they are good decisions and sometimes they are not good."

However, he was in no mood to make a similar admission on Wednesday. When he was asked if he regrets the decision to leave Chilwell out of the team's squad for the Conference League, Maresca replied: "No. I don't think so. No."

Chelsea begin their Conference League campaign on Thursday with a home game against Gent. Then, on Sunday, they host Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League.