Sections of the Chelsea support have lost patience with Sanchez, leading Maresca to urge the Stamford Bridge crowd to get behind whoever he chooses on Monday night. He did admit, however, that taking a struggling player out of the firing line could prove a wise course of action.

Enzo Maresca has said that Chelsea's form has "100%" been affected by transfer speculation, claiming some of his players may not have been fully focussed.