Chelsea Take Advantage of New Champions League Rule

Chelsea have gratefully exploited UEFA’s new directive when it comes to long-term injuries to include Facundo Buonanotte in their Champions League squad for the upcoming league phase.

Buonanotte, who joined from Brighton & Hove Albion on loan on Deadline Day, was surprisingly omitted from the initial list of 23 provided by Enzo Maresca. Then Dário Essugo got injured.

The summer recruit from Sporting CP had been named in the Champions League squad, yet once it became apparent that he would be sidelined with a thigh injury for at least three months Chelsea had another option available to them.

Ahead of the second season of this expanded Champions League format, UEFA approved an amendment which would allow the temporary replacement of one outfield player “with long-term injury or illness” during the league phase of the competition.

“The reasoning for the adaptation is to ensure that squad lists are not unfairly reduced and players are safeguarded from additional workload pressure,” UEFA reasoned.

Buonanotte is much more of an attacking option than Essugo, whose absence could be keenly felt should other players pull up with a knock. Moisés Caicedo is an ever-present at the base of midfield yet the only other defensively-minded central option for Maresca is Andrey Santos.