Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca left Sweden with more than just a win against Djurgarden—he walked away satisfied with how he managed his squad ahead of a crucial Premier League clash against Liverpool on Sunday.

Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, Maresca emphasised the importance of protecting his players, revealing that careful planning went into his in-game decisions: “We try to manage players, we know that we need to protect players.”

The Djurgarden match offered an opportunity for Maresca to balance fitness, form, and recovery. With four substitutions made at half-time, the Italian tactician ensured that his first-team regulars were not overworked. None of the key players were on the pitch for more than 45 minutes—a deliberate move to maintain freshness ahead of the weekend showdown.

“We decide to start in one way and to finish in a different way. I think it worked well. But now we have a game in two days, three days,” Maresca explained. “We are going to arrive back in London at 5am in the morning and we have a game on Sunday so we need to recover the energy.”

This rotation strategy appears to have paid off. Chelsea looked organised, fluid, and efficient, despite the numerous changes. The young talents blended well with the experienced heads, keeping the team’s level consistently high throughout the match.

With a critical Premier League game looming against Liverpool, every decision Maresca made in Sweden was with Sunday firmly in mind. Chelsea’s hopes of finishing in the top five remain alive, and managing minutes in midweek could prove pivotal.