Everyone will be surprised when Chelsea's squad plays against Brentford without Cole Palmer or Nicolas Jackson. Both players have just returned from injury in the win over Spurs in midweek.
Therefore, coach Enzo Maresca has left his key attacking options on the bench. However, the question is, will Maresca keep Palmer and Jackson's energy for the Europa Conference League quarter-finals or for any other purpose?
This is definitely a gamble, especially when The Blues are given the opportunity to consolidate their position in the top 5 of the Premier League. In addition, they are fully capable of narrowing the gap with third-placed Nottingham Forest after the loss to Aston Villa.
"I think we played a good game. We have one less day off than them. It was a difficult place to go, sunny and dry. They tried to slow down the pace of the match, they didn't want to play as fast as we wanted.
We have scored more than 20 times and perhaps the only thing we lack is a goal. However, overall I am satisfied with the performance of the students. When you finish as many as you do, you always have a chance to win. We can always do better, not just today but throughout the whole season" - Maresca said after the draw with Brentford.
Chelsea had a poor first-half performance. They lack sharpness in attack without Palmer and Jackson. Maresca knew that and quickly brought both key players onto the pitch. In fact, the substitution has given the Blues the prospect of a win.
Jackson, Palmer along with Pedro Neto have given The Blues a lot of attacking motivation. However, in the end, no player could help them break the deadlock when the match ended in a goalless draw. Chelsea will have to worry when looking at the group chasing behind in the race for a ticket to the Champions League.
This draw means Chelsea have not won away from home in the Premier League since beating Spurs 4-3 last December.
When asked about the importance of the Champions League next season for Chelsea, Maresca replied: "Since the first rounds, we have always been in the group of the best teams in the tournament. I hope we can end in the position to participate in the Champions League. It is really important for big teams."
