Enzo Maresca will be able to make changes to the squad that Chelsea named for the competition back in September. UEFA rules state that clubs can add signings from the January window to their squads, but only once the league phase has been completed.

Maresca found disliked the distractions the transfer window brought but will be satisfied with the way Chelsea trimmed their squad

In November, he suggested that Jamie Vardy was the best English striker of his generation, better even than Wayne Rooney or Harry Kane. He also claimed that League One side Barrow and then a doomed Southampton were the “worst” possible opponents for his Chelsea side, who went on to score five in both games.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has rallied around Pep Guardiola and said the struggling Manchester City boss needs support.

Chelsea play on Monday, just hours before the transfer window deadline, with several players linked with exits from Stamford Bridge.

Axel Disasi made a late loan move to Aston Villa on the evening of transfer deadline day, despite serving as a backup for the first part of the season at Chelsea. Rumours for bigger transfers never materialised into action,