Enzo Maresca lays down challenge to Chelsea stars - 'Make us a better team'

Enzo Maresca says his Chelsea youngsters are relishing the chance to perform in raucous Warsaw, declaring: “It will make us a better team.”

remain overwhelming favourites to win the Conference League but Legia offer the sternest test so far – especially in front of one of Europe’s most febrile atmospheres.

After landing in the capital on Wednesday evening, the 24-man Blues squad went straight to the Polish Army Stadium to get used to the surroundings. And Maresca expects his troops to display plenty of bravery in another landmark moment for their development.

“We need to experience this kind of game, this kind of moment,” he said. “After tomorrow, we will be a better team, we need this.

"We have shown the players some of the environment in this stadium, so they can adapt. “The players have to think that they are lucky to experience these kinds of games but we cannot allow external factors to change the way we play."

Filip Jorgensen is set to return in goal and academy graduate Josh Acheampong will get another start in defence.

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But Maresca was coy on whether Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson will return to the XI after both were named on the bench against Brentford last Sunday. And the Italian insisted last night that that decision was not made because he is now prioritising the Conference League rather than domestic affairs.

“Probably from outside, you receive in the wrong way the reason why Cole and Nico didn't play. It wasn't because we wanted them to play (in Warsaw). It was to start the game in one way and finish in another.

“Since day one we have been top four. I know that for Chelsea it's normal to win, and we've had some difficulties recently. But overall, the season has been pretty good, and we have to finish well."

Legia, who have kept clean sheets in five of their seven home European games, are without top scorers Bartosz Kapustka, formerly of , and Marc Gual. But former youngster Maxi Oyedele could feature.

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