Chelsea made last-minute changes to their Champions League teams during the league stage of the tournament ahead of their opening match against Bayern Munich. The Blues are set to face German Bundesliga champions on Wednesday evening, with Enzo Maresca injured before the match.
Currently, Liam Delap and Dario Essugo are the only long-term absentees of the Blues, and the club is currently trading the latter for Facundo Buonanotte for group stages. Earlier this month, Essugo was on Blues’ A-list, but the midfielder has now been replaced by Buonanotte after suffering a thigh injury during a recent international break. According to UEFA Champions League regulations, Chelsea are actually allowed to replace injured outfield players after the September 2nd deadline.
Article 31.14 states: “Exceptionally, replacements after the deadline set by the current regulations are permitted under the following circumstances and under the following conditions:
“Long-term injury or illness of outfield players: During the league phase until match day 6 is included, the involved clubs can temporarily trade one outfield player and register new outfield players. 2025-24:00 CET).
“An injury or illness of an outfield player is considered long-term if it lasts at least 60 days on the day the injury or illness occurs. If an outfield player recovers before the end of this 60-day period, the player is not eligible to participate in the UEFA Club Competition (i.e., the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, or UEFA Conference League). The quota of club-trained or association-trained players who are club-trained or association-trained players must be filled with alternatives.
“The club must provide UEFA with the necessary medical evidence in any of the official UEFA languages. Before confirming the exchange, UEFA may require further medical examination of outfield players by experts appointed to UEFA at the club’s expense. It was announced to the UEFA administration at least 24 hours before the next match the original outfield player is scheduled to play.”
Buonanotte is expected to be on Tuesday in a training session with the Chelsea team as usual and at a travel party heading to Germany.
The 20-year-old offensive midfielder arrived at the West London Club on loan from Brighton on the deadline, with the Blues making his debut on Saturday in a 2-2 stalemate with Brentford. Before Brentford’s encounter, Maresca praised Italian talent.
“Bunanotto is a good player,” Maresca declared. “I’ll get in touch there because he’s in Leicester and I know him because I was there. He’s a player who can help us. We have so many competitions, so many games.
