Chelsea intend to move their pre-match huddle from the centre circle to avoid interfering with match officials. The decision follows an incident during Saturday's fixture where referee Paul Tierney was caught in the middle of the team gathering. The squad traditionally congregates in the centre of the pitch immediately before kick-off to motivate one another, according to Sky Sports.
Enzo Maresca and his players want to avoid antagonising officials or opponents with the ritual. The huddle occurred while Tierney was attempting to place the ball for the start of the match. Chelsea officials expect to relocate the meeting to their own half for future home matches at Stamford Bridge, per The Athletic. The team continues to use the huddle as a final preparation tool but acknowledges the need for better positioning. The club currently sits in the top half of the Premier League table as they prepare for their upcoming fixtures. No formal disciplinary action has been reported following the weekend incident.
