05/11/2025
Enzo Maresca Prematch UCL Interview
On Qarabag:
- "Absolutely, they are a good team. They beat Benfica, Copenhagen, were winning against Bilbao. For sure is going to be a tough game for different reasons."
- "As a team, they are a very good team. Very intense. You can see it's many years they work with the same manager. At home, they are more intense."
On Cole Palmer:
- "We hope so [Cole Palmer will be back for Barcelona match]. We try to schedule at the beginning [of his injury], we need to review that. He's still not taking sessions with the team."
- "I would like to have Cole tomorrow! We want him back very soon. I have said we are a better team with Cole."
On Injuries:
- "Dario Essugo is out for a while. We have to wait maybe until the New Year. December, maybe January."
- "Benoit Badiashile can be available after the international break, that's huge news for us."
On the Squad:
- "No [we won't leave anyone at home]. Just Pedro Neto [is out for tomorrow]."
- "Liam [Delap] is back, an important player for us, an option for tomorrow."
On Goalkeepers:
- "Could be an option [to start Filip Jorgensen]. We need both keepers ready. 100% [trust in Filip Jorgensen]."
- "It's very difficult for a goalkeeper if you are not playing every game."
On Reece James:
- "Reece [James] is good, doing well, fit 100%. The way he behaves every game is top, even when he is not playing. Now I think he is ready to play three games in a week."
On Romeo Lavia:
- "The target is to keep him fit. Don't get any injuries. For me in this moment Romeo is where Reece was more or less one year ago."
- "I would like to have Romeo [Lavia] on the pitch always but it's my duty to protect him."
