'He's the oldest one' - Chelsea boss Maresca admits Tosin is unhappy when he doesn't play

Speaking before Chelsea's Premier League match against Sunderland, manager Enzo Maresca has admitted that even the most experienced members of his squad, including Tosin Adarabioyo, are not immune to frustration when left out of the starting lineup.

At 28, Tosin is the oldest outfield player in the Chelsea first team, but the Super Eagles target is not a guaranteed starter if the Chelsea boss has all his central defenders available for selection.

In his maiden campaign at Stamford Bridge, the former Fulham man started fifteen of the 38 games contested by Chelsea in the Premier League, and has made just three starts in the division so far this season.

Maresca explained how he manages player expectations in a highly competitive squad, using both young forward Estevao Willian and centre-back Tosin as examples.

"It's with Estevao but it's almost with all of them, it doesn't matter the age because with the ones if you say to, I don't know, to Tosin that he's the oldest one, that he's not going to play, he's not happy," Maresca told reporters at Friday's press conference.

"So it's not about the age, it's about that when they don't play they are not happy but again they have to understand that they cannot play every game."

Tosin's chances of being named in the matchday squad against Sunderland are high, with Levi Colwill and Benoît Badiashile unavailable for selection due to injuries.

He featured from the start in Chelsea's Champions League triumph over Ajax Amsterdam but was substituted at the break after being cautioned in the 31st minute.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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