Chelsea’s goalless draw against Brentford may not have been the most exciting spectacle, but the real talking point wasn’t what happened on the pitch—it was who wasn’t on it.

Fans were left puzzled by Enzo Maresca’s decision to field a weakened side for the short trip to the Gtech Community Stadium. After all, Chelsea are in the business end of the season, chasing a European spot and trying to build momentum. But after the match, Maresca made it clear who was to blame: the fixture schedule.

Speaking to the press, Maresca explained that the quick turnaround from Thursday night’s physically demanding clash against Tottenham forced his hand. “The reason why is we played Thursday night and not all of them were 100%,” he said. “The idea was to start in one way and finish another way. The plan almost worked.”

Maresca added that while the team didn’t have far to travel, the sheer intensity of the Tottenham match—marked by high transitions and relentless pace—took a toll on the players, especially those like Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson, who had only just returned from injuries.

It’s a reminder of the brutal demands of modern football, where recovery time is often a luxury. Chelsea had less than 72 hours to prepare for Brentford, and Maresca, understandably, had to prioritise player fitness over fan expectations.

He didn’t directly call out the Premier League schedulers, but his frustration was clear: “I think so, yes, especially at this stage of the season,” he said when asked if he was annoyed by the scheduling.