Enzo Maresca admits he ‘feels shame’ over his treatment of Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell.
The Champions League winner and England international has made just one appearance for Chelsea this season.
Maresca admitted before the start of the campaign that Chilwell was not part of his plans and would struggle for game-time at Stamford Bridge.
Despite this, Chilwell failed to find a new club before the summer transfer window closed and has therefore barely played over the past six months, his only minutes coming in a League Cup game against Barrow.
The January transfer window offers Chilwell another chance to leave Chelsea but there has been little speculation over the 28-year-old, who has proven to be injury-prone in recent years and is on almost £200-a-week at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca has not enjoyed continually overlooking Chilwell and says the full-back has reacted superbly to his repeated snubs.
Speaking at his pre-Bournemouth press conference on Monday morning, Maresca said: ‘Ben has been top. I have to say that, he has been top.
‘Very professional, works hard. I feel shame because of that situation but in terms of behaviour, he has been very good.’
Asked why he has not changed his stance on Chilwell, Maresca added: ‘First of all because it’s my choice.
‘I can see Malo Gusto or Reece James or Marc Cucurella doing a different kind of job in the game.
‘I think Chilwell is a top full-back doing that job up and down and in the past he has won titles and won international caps. But I struggle to see Ben doing different kind of things.’
Chelsea spent £45m to sign Chilwell from boyhood club Leicester City in the summer of 2020. He has made 107 appearances for the Blues.
Ex-Chelsea defender Celestine Babayaro insists Chilwell needs to leave the club in January for the sake of his career.
‘In terms of players who might need to look at moving on, I’m looking at Ben Chilwell,’ he told Ladbrokes.
‘I love him – he’s actually one of my favourite left-backs. But he can’t seem to get himself fit. He’s the sort of person who I’m looking at, who probably needs to think about his career.
‘You know, he’s not as young as he once was, so he’s got to be thinking, “if I’m not getting games here, I need to move”.
‘Apart from that, I don’t think anyone else will be thinking of leaving the club at this moment in time, because they’re pretty much all brand new signings.
‘But, yeah, I just think Chilwell might be looking at his future, and thinking he needs to move on from the club.’
Chelsea sit fourth in the Premier League ahead of their trip to Bournemouth on Tuesday night.
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