“Should leave, I won’t even blame him” - Chelsea fans furious as Enzo Maresca refuses to name defender in line-up to face Lincoln City in EFL Cup

Chelsea fans have expressed the disappointment after teenage defender Josh Acheampong was excluded from the starting XI for their EFL Cup meeting with Lincoln City. The Blues are set to take on the League One side in the third round of the secondary cup competition away from home.

Blues boss Enzo Maresca has decided to rotate his pack for the encounter, making eight changes to the XI that lost to Manchester United on Saturday. A notable absentee from Maresca's roster is academy graduate Acheampong, who misses out altogether.

Chelsea have kept the duo of Wesley Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah as their centre-back pairing for the game, with Acheampong absent. The club's fans are unhappy with the exclusion of the talented 19-year-old defender, and some of them took to X to share their disappointment.

A fan asked if the England U-19 star was unavailable as a result of injury.

Another fan asked what the youngster has to do to get game time.

A fan asked for clarity on the fitness status of the youngster amid his absence.

Another fan stated with confidence that the defender has picked up an injury.

A fan advised the versatile youngster to leave the club due to limited game time.

Josh Acheampong misses out on the match day squad for a second successive game, having also been left out against Manchester United at the weekend due to a technical decision. The youngster signed a long-term contract with the Blues last season and is very highly regarded by coach Maresca.

Sources reveal reason behind Acheampong absence for Chelsea

Chelsea are without young defender Josh Acheampong for their Carabao Cup Third Round meeting with Lincoln City due to illness, as per reports. The teenage defender was a surprise omission from Enzo Maresca's side to take on their lower league opponents at the Sincil Bank Stadium.

Journalist Ben Jacobs has revealed that Acheampong is down with the flu and has missed out on the squad to face Lincoln, as a result. The report has stated that the youngster remains very highly-rated and will get chances to strut his stuff as the season progresses.

Josh Acheampong has yet to feature for Maresca's side since starting their league opener against Crystal Palace last month. The Blues kept a clean sheet with the youngster a standout performer, but he has quickly found himself behind the likes of Tosin Adarabioyo and Wesley Fofana in the pecking order.

About the author

Sulayman is a European and international football writer at Sportskeeda covering news and transfer rumors. He has an overall experience of 4 years, having previously worked at the likes of SportsRation and ExtraTimeTalk. His tryst with the sport happened at a young age, playing it at home and watching the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Sulayman has a good feel for the game, which is reflected in his descriptive articles. He double checks information via multiple sources for accuracy, and only uses top-tier platforms like Transfermarkt and Opta for statistical information. His experience and exploits in the industry have led Sulayman to cover the Nigerian Professional League for three years along with games involving the Nigerian national team. He has also worked in F1, joining hands with industry veterans to provide a smooth viewing experience in Nigeria.

Sulayman hails Lionel Messi as the one true GOAT, and his brace in Argentina’s 2005 U20 FIFA World Cup final win over Nigeria left a lasting impact on him. He also supports Chelsea at club level, having followed their dominance under Jose Mourinho. Sulayman also follows other leagues with Nigerian players like Eredivisie, Saudi Pro League, Turkish Super Lig, and more. When not writing, he enjoys cooking and eating.

Know More

Edited by Sulayman Salahudeen