Chelsea cancel scheduled day off after first team lose 3-0 to Under-21s

Summarize and humanize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs in EnglishChelsea head coach Enzo Maresca cancelled a scheduled day off for senior players this week after they were beaten 3-0 by the club’s Under-21 team in a training exercise.Maresca took the action after being disappointed by what he had seen during the drill. While it was not a full 90 minute match between the first team and academy players, the less experienced group came out on top with 19-year-old Donnell McNeilly getting two of the goals.The game involved senior players who were not involved on international duty, while the Under-21s had some Under-16s playing to help make up the numbers.With Chelsea not playing their next fixture, which is against Tottenham Hotspur, until next Thursday, Maresca had scheduled for everyone to have Thursday, March 27 as a day off. But he scrapped the idea after not being happy with what he saw.The Italian’s decision is seen as a reminder of the standards he expects even though it was a minor exercise during an international break. Chelsea have nine games to secure a place in the Champions League via a top-five Premier League finish. They are also trying to win the Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup.Maresca has got tough with his players on more than one occasion this season after they have not delivered in training. For example, Noni Madueke has been left out of games a couple of times because he has been deemed to have underperformed in training sessions.Chelsea were boosted by the return of Cole Palmer and Madueke to training on Friday after injury. Palmer missed the last game against Arsenal and withdrew from England duty due to a muscular injury. The 22-year-old has had a couple of scans and been given the all-clear to resume duties.Madueke has not played since suffering a hamstring injury against Brighton last month, but is also back in action. They both featured in today’s session which sources, who spoke anonymously to The Athletic to protect relationships, was more to the level Maresca expects.(Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)