Enzo Maresca is ready to defy the Club World Cup rulebook by rotating his line-up as he pleases in the United States after Chelsea won their opening group game versus Los Angeles FC.

When Chelsea agreed to partake in this tournament, they signed a Participation Agreement. Among its stipulations was a promise to ‘field their strongest team throughout the competition’.

However, Maresca believes rotation is necessary with the event coming at the end of an elongated season, particularly now that they are expected to play every few days in the challenging humid climate of the United States. It is set to hit as high as 38 degrees in Philadelphia next week.

We asked, but were not told, how it will be decided whether a club contravenes their rules or what the punishment would be if a charge came.

Chelsea next face Flamengo on Friday in Philadelphia before rounding out the group stage against Tunisia’s Esperance de Tunis at the same venue on Tuesday.

Enzo Maresca is ready to risk a FIFA rap by rotating his Chelsea team in the Club World Cup group stage

It is set to hit 38 degrees in Philadelphia next week for Chelsea’s final two group games

A strong Chelsea line-up took on Los Angeles on Monday, but Maresca is set to make changes

CLUBS PUSH BACK ON INTRUSIONS 

I reckon we can all agree that Ref Cam has been a success so far at the Club World Cup. 

The referee’s perspective for Pedro Neto’s goal versus Los Angeles FC, after a lovely assist from Nicolas Jackson, was something we would all like to see in the Premier League.

We might see it soon enough, too, because I’m told that is one trial being conducted by FIFA which IFAB – the global lawmakers – are monitoring closely. FIFA will send IFAB their findings at the end of the tournament and, right now, I’m hearing the consensus is that it is proving a success.

IFAB will decide whether it is worth opening the experiment up to other competitions – maybe even in England – but they would not give us a timeline when asked for one.

However, some of FIFA’s other ideas have not gone down too well with the 32 teams participating in the Club World Cup.

I’m told FIFA have been privately pushing clubs to allow them to mic up managers and place cameras inside changing rooms for  half-time team talks. Those requests have not been entirely embraced, as you can imagine.

The general feeling among the 32 sides I’ve consulted in confidence is that this is supposed to be the biggest trophy in club football, with a £1billion prize pot, not a pre-season tournament. You can hold trials in the Premier League Summer Series, where we previously saw the Ref Cam.

But asking for access so unprecedented that you want the manager to go public with his private instructions? That is being seen as a step too far.

The referee’s perspective for Pedro Neto’s goal versus Los Angeles FC, after a lovely assist from Nicolas Jackson, was something we would all like to see in the Premier League

Club World Cup participants have pushed back on plans to televise half-time team talks

GITTENS DEAL BACK ON

Chelsea are again pushing to sign Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens, who was a substitute in their 0-0 draw with Brazilian side Fluminense here at the Club World Cup.

The Blues had a £42million bid turned down for the 20-year-old Englishman, who is interested in the big move.

Separately, Confidential has been told that Chelsea retain an interest in Morgan Rogers if a transfer from Aston Villa became possible.

Rogers would join a growing ex-Manchester City contingency at Chelsea if so, including Cole Palmer, Liam Delap and Romeo Lavia, as well as Maresca.

Chelsea have gone back to pushing to sign Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens

Chelsea retain an interest in Morgan Rogers if a transfer from Aston Villa became possible

TEETHING ISSUES FOR NEXT SUMMER

The Club World Cup is a dress rehearsal for next year’s World Cup in the United States with FIFA trialling a few new innovations, including their new approach to mixed zones – the area where players pass through after matches to speak to waiting journalists, if they want to.

On ‘matchday minus one’, clubs are contractually obliged to put up three players at the stadium, and the trio are all brought in at once and placed on plinths in various corners of the room.

That has caused some slightly embarrassing scenes, however.

For example, Los Angeles FC selected Hugo Lloris, Frankie Amaya and Aaron Long. There was a big group of journalists huddled around France’s 2018 World Cup-winning captain Lloris, of course, and that left Amaya and Long all on their own with only a FIFA minder for company.

Chelsea selected Moises Caicedo, Mamadou Sarr and Malo Gusto and the English press split ourselves up accordingly to avoid a repeat of that awkward situation.

FIFA’s insistence that reporters are strictly limited to one question per person at press conferences – and must wait for the microphone to make its way to us from wherever it is in the room – isn’t the best, either, as it means we cannot get into a good flow with Enzo Maresca.

You might ask a question on the goalkeeping situation and Maresca might namecheck Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen and Mike Penders, but neglect to mention Djordje Petrovic in his answer.

Trouble is, the mic has already been taken away from us and you will risk being told what’s what by FIFA’s stern official if you dare try an unsolicited follow-up thereafter.

Ex-Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was a wanted man after his Los Angeles FC side’s 2-0 defeat by Chelsea 

Reporters made sure to spread out evenly when Malo Gusto, Moises Caicedo and Mamadou Sarr were presented to the waiting media

ERR, IS THIS THE CLUB WORLD CUP HQ?

I’m told Chelsea’s opening Club World Cup win over Los Angeles FC peaked at 1.5million viewers on Channel 5, and that number does not take into account the DAZN figures.

As for being in the United States itself, however, we are still waiting to feel as if football fever is taking over.

For example, we found a brewery in Atlanta which had a sign outside reading: ‘FIFA Club World Cup headquarters.’ We went inside to watch Bayern Munich’s 10-0 win over Auckland City – except they weren’t showing it.

Another bar the previous night opted to broadcast a UFC fight over the opening game of the tournament, Inter Miami versus Ah Ahly. Probably for the best given that fixture finished 0-0.

EXPERT VIEW ON ESTEVAO

Confidential spoke with Flamengo goalkeeper Agustin Rossi a couple of weeks back and we asked him about Chelsea’s incoming superstar Estevao Willian, given he sees the Brazil and Palmeiras wonderkid much more than we do.

‘Here in South American football, not just Brazilian football, we that he is a very important player,’ Rossi said. ‘Despite his young age, he’s going to a club like Chelsea, so the anticipation in England is great, even in Brazil, just thinking about how much he’ll grow in a league like the Premier League.

‘What I can say is he has great characteristics, great performances, and that’s how he got Chelsea’s attention. He’ll definitely be a great addition to Chelsea next season.’

Estevao played 65 minutes of Palmeiras’ goalless Club World Cup opener against Porto on Sunday night in New Jersey

The 18-year-old wonderkid has five Brazil caps already and started in new boss Carlo Ancelotti’s first match in charge this month

Estevao has five Brazil caps already and played 65 minutes of Palmeiras’ goalless Club World Cup opener against Porto on Sunday night in New Jersey. He will finally complete his £29m move, two years after it was agreed, when Palmeiras’ involvement in the States ends.

Flamengo have their own young starlet, called Lorran, 18. He has also been linked with Chelsea.

NEW TOURNAMENT, NEW LOOK

Chelsea will debut their new away shirt – which is nice, to be fair – in their next two group games after wearing their home kit in the opener versus Los Angeles FC.

FROM BENIDORM TO BRENTFORD…

If Chelsea get to the final of the Club World Cup, they will play in New Jersey on July 13.

Chelsea players could have just two weeks to gear up for the first Premier League game of the season, at home to Crystal Palace

Fortunately, Chelsea will not have to make any long trips until September, with their first two away matches being at fellow London sides West Ham and Brentford

The Premier League then begins just five weeks later at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday, August 17.

However, Maresca believes his players will need three weeks of downtime at the point of exiting this tournament, at least, even if they go all the way in the United States, leaving them barely any time to gear up for the new season.

I think we will hear Maresca bringing up the situation at press conferences regularly next season, particularly if Chelsea go through a sticky patch.

At least Chelsea face four fellow London sides in the first month, with West Ham away, Fulham at home and Brentford away following Palace, and do not have to leave the capital until September 20 for the trip to Manchester United.