Maresca admits regret over benching Acheampong as Chelsea rue Tosin error

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has admitted he “regrets” leaving teenage defender Josh Acheampong on the bench during the club’s 3–1 Premier League defeat to Leeds United on Wednesday.

The Italian addressed the decision on Friday while previewing Chelsea’s next league fixture against Bournemouth, where he was asked why the Ghana-eligible centre-back has barely featured since early November. Acheampong’s only recent minutes came as a late substitute against Barcelona in the Champions League.

Maresca said the choice to start Trevoh Chalobah, Benoît Badiashile and Tosin Adarabioyo against Leeds was intentional, noting that the coaching staff anticipated a direct, physical approach from Daniel Farke’s side.

Chelsea’s aerial plan backfires despite Tosin’s individual numbers

Against Leeds, Chelsea conceded two first-half goals to Jaka Bijol and Ao Tanaka before Pedro Neto pulled one back shortly after the break. But hopes of a comeback faded when a misjudged moment from Tosin allowed Dominic Calvert-Lewin to score Leeds’ third.

The error triggered heated reactions online, with some Nigerian fans urging Mali coach Eric Chelle to avoid considering Tosin for Super Eagles selection, citing the defender’s performance.

Maresca, reflecting on the game, said the selection was built around winning aerial duels, an area where he felt Acheampong’s youthful energy could have helped.

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“One of the regrets I have after Leeds is that I didn’t play with Josh Acheampong,” he said, explaining that the back three of Chalobah, Badiashile and Tosin was chosen because Leeds “played long balls to their strikers”. Despite that plan, he admitted Chelsea “still lost most of them”.

However, match data paints a more layered picture. Tosin Adarabioyo finished the game with a team-high eight aerial duels won, the most by any player on the pitch and two more than Calvert-Lewin, who served as Leeds’ primary target man.

Even with Tosin’s numbers, the collective defensive structure collapsed under Leeds’ pressure, leaving Maresca to weigh experience against Acheampong’s growing readiness.

As Chelsea prepare for Bournemouth, the manager’s remarks suggest the 18-year-old may now be closer to earning more consistent minutes, especially with the club still searching for defensive stability.