Enzo Maresca suggests Chelsea will attempt to sign defensive reinforcements amid injury concerns - but reiterates confidence in 'good enough' Josh Acheampong

Jean-Philippe Mateta’s dramatic late equaliser prolonged Chelsea’s struggles in the Premier League, as the Blues played out a 1-1 draw. The result marked their fourth consecutive league game without a victory, overshadowing Cole Palmer’s impressive opening goal.

Despite the disappointing result, one bright spot for Chelsea was the composed display by Josh Acheampong, who made his first ever Premier League start. Paired alongside Levi Colwill in central defence in the absence of experienced campaigners Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile, the young talent showcased maturity and potential just weeks after committing his long-term future to the club. Maresca was jubilant about his performance, calling him the standout player of the match.

“All the players, for me, were good but if I had to decide for one, I think for sure, Josh was our best player because of his age, it was his first game,” Maresca said in his post-match press conference. “Josh, for me, can be a top player for this club but he needs the right path, the right moment; for young players, you need to decide which moment.

“We decided (to start him in this game) because we think he showed that he was ready. I think he showed how good he is. Because of his age, he needs to slow down, work hard and take his next chance.”

Acheampong's involvement was partly explained by the injuries that kept Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana out of Saturday's game. Chelsea’s defensive unit has been stretched thin and the fitness issues could result in a new face being brought in in this month. When asked if Acheampong’s emergence reduced the urgency to sign another senior defender, Maresca remained measured in his response.

“Even if we don’t decide to buy players or sell players because Josh has shown he is good, we already knew Josh was good enough. Probably with Wes and Benoit injuries, we will see if something is going to happen [in the transfer market]," he added.

Chelsea’s next test comes in the FA Cup third round, where they will host Morecambe on January 11. The fixture offers the Blues an opportunity to regain confidence and potentially rotate their squad, providing young players like Acheampong additional chances to shine.