Chelsea midfield a match for Newcastle stars, says Enzo Maresca | OneFootball

Newcastle’s trio are key to their rise to prominence but face a fearsome test on Sunday

Enzo Maresca and Moises Caicedo

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Enzo Maresca believes Chelsea already have a midfield capable of winning titles in the years to come.

For much of the campaign, Maresca has opted to play a three-man midfield of Cole Palmer and £222million duo Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez. Romeo Lavia, who is now back and available after a succession of injuries, has also featured at the base of midfield.

Newcastle boast one of the most impressive midfields in the league, with the trio of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton instrumental to their rise in recent seasons, and Maresca was asked whether his own options in that area of the pitch are equally as influential.

“For sure,” he replied. “I think after the Liverpool game some of you told me we had repeated the same starting XI from against Everton after six months. This is important to continue with the same players.

“We have Romeo back fit, Mois is doing well, Enzo is doing well and Cole is doing well. They have Bruno Guimaraes, Tonali, [Jacob] Murphy, Joelinton, [Joe] Willock. They have different kinds of players, and [Chelsea’s midfielders] expect a huge game.”

Asked whether he feels Chelsea have enough quality in midfield to challenge for titles, Maresca replied: “Absolutely, yes.”

He added: “[Sunday’s game] is a big one. It’s a huge one. And Manchester United [next week] will be a big one, and [final game] Nottingham Forest will be a big one. We now have three more games and all of them will be big games, for sure.

“Sunday is a chance to start in the right way. We are on a good run, in a good mood. Hopefully we can win the game. It’s not an ideal situation. It’s 12pm after [facing Djurgarden on] Thursday night. But we need to adapt immediately.”