Enzo Maresca has cancelled a scheduled day off for Chelsea’s first team after they suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat to the club’s Under-21s during Wednesday’s training session.

First-team players who were not on international duty had originally been granted Thursday off. However, the Blues manager was so concerned by what he witnessed on the training ground that he insisted his squad return to Cobham for an additional session.

Maresca will be eager to ensure that Chelsea do not squander their strong start to the season as they approach the crucial final phase of the campaign.

The Blues currently sit fourth in the Premier League, but the race for Champions League qualification is intensifying in a tightly contested table, with just five points separating Maresca’s side from Bournemouth in 10th place.

This week, Maresca has been training without key players such as captain Reece James and Enzo Fernández, who are away on international duty.

With a week remaining until Chelsea host London rivals Tottenham, Maresca decided to test the remainder of his first-team squad against the Under-21s.

The Chelsea manager was deeply disappointed as the club’s younger players outworked and outperformed the senior squad, with a team comprised mainly of Under-21s – and even some Under-16s – securing a commanding 3-0 victory over a side made up primarily of first-team players.

Donnell McNeilly scored twice, while 16-year-old Chizzy Ezenwata added the third.

Several of Chelsea’s international stars returned to training on Friday, and the overall standard of performance is believed to have significantly improved.