Chelsea’s Future Under Enzo Maresca: What to Expect

Chelsea has found a successor. The Blues needed a new manager after firing Mauricio Pochettino just a season after hiring him. The options were limited, particularly with managers rejecting Chelsea due to the club’s lack of stability. Finally, Todd Boehly made his choice: Enzo Maresca. This raises the question of who is he, and what can we expect?

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Enzo Maresca As A Player

Enzo Maresca is relatively unknown in the football scene, both as a player and a manager. He started his youth career with AC Milan before moving abroad to West Bromwich Albion, where he spent two years. His performance there was solid but not exceptional.

The midfielder then returned to Italy to play for Juventus, where he stayed for four years, followed by various loan spells. Maresca eventually found his footing at Sevilla. In the 2010s, he returned to Italy, playing for Sampdoria and Palermo before finishing his career at Verona. Shortly after, he transitioned into management.

Start of a Quiet Managerial Career

Like many players turned coaches, Maresca initially lacked the necessary coaching qualifications, which led him to work as an assistant for the second-division club Ascoli, an almost forgotten part of his career. 

His journey began in earnest when he joined Manchester City in 2020, managing the Elite Development Squad and coaching City’s youth. Quietly, Maresca climbed up the coaching ladder, and Parma called him back to Italy in 2021.

At the time, the club was in the second division. Despite having Italian legend Gianluigi Buffon in his squad, the adventure was short-lived. Maresca was sacked barely six months after his arrival.

The Beginning of Everything

A few months later, Pep Guardiola himself called Maresca up to rejoin Manchester City. This move came as a result of Juanma Lillo’s departure to Qatar, leaving a void in Pep’s coaching staff.

Maresca took on the role of assistant once again. After another year, the Italian moved on – this time to Leicester City, who were in the second division. Leicester hoped Maresca could secure their promotion, and he exceeded all expectations.

He was awarded the EFL Championship Manager Of The Month month after month, proof of Leicester’s success since his arrival. Promotion was secured, but more importantly, a new vision emerged.

Leicester had struggled for direction since their relegation, but Maresca changed that. Under his leadership, Leicester won 67.92% of their games, losing only thirteen out of fifty-three encounters.

Expectations at Chelsea

The question is how Maresca’s appointment will affect Chelsea, a club with a much greater stature. 

Enzo Maresca, unsurprisingly, follows the long list of Pep’s disciples in terms of philosophy. He prefers the game to be played slowly, much like Roberto De Zerbi. Possession is valued highly, and the build-up is methodical and logical. A three at the back is formed in possession – with one full-back pushing higher up while the other one stays in the three-man chain. 

At Leicester, the goalkeeper often acted as the fourth man, a modern tactic to create a +1 advantage in possession in the first phase.

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A Clear Brand of Football

Lev Colwill, a student of De Zerbi, will play a major role in Chelsea’s upcoming season. Colwill has already been important for the club, but under Maresca’s slower build-up scheme, he will likely become the maestro at the back, reminiscent of De Zerbi’s instructions.

This also means Chelsea will field a four-man midfield (often described as a box or square) is likely to be fielded, which would benefit players like Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández.

Although it is tough to determine the exact midfield lineup – Caicedo and Enzo are likely starters. Maresca’s preference for inverted full-backs who transition into pivots in possession was noticeable at Leicester City, indicating that one of Reece-James or Marc Cucurella could take on that role. 

Caicedo would be expected to start next to one of these inverted full-backs, while Enzo would take on one of the higher interior positions, potentially alongside Cole Palmer or Christopher Nkunku. 

At Leicester, Maresca liked his two pivots to remain close to each other, drawing the opposition toward them and freeing up the higher interiors or the wide wingers. It remains unclear which wingers will start for Chelsea, but the general setup is expected to suit Chelsea’s players better than Pochettino’s system. 

Another key question is whether the Blues will invest in a new striker. This seems likely as Nicholas Jackson might not be enough – Stamford Bridge needs a more box-dominant striker than the former Villarreal forward. Additionally, the striker would be expected to be mobile, as Leicester often saw their striker drop deep to create numerical superiority in the advanced midfield.

Many Changes Are Needed

A busy summer transfer window is expected, depending on how many of Maresca’s demands will be granted by Chelsea’s board.

Many current players might not fit the new manager’s scheme, as he requires a high level of technical skill. Leicester often saw its players escape compact situations to free their teammates. 

However, this requires a mentality that is not susceptible to pressure, something not all of Chelsea’s current squad possesses. If Marc Cucurella is to have a prominent role as a left-back who inverts in the midfield, another left-back will likely be needed to cover for him.

The Right Bet

Maresca’s arrival signifies a shift, as he brings clear ideas to the table. Since sacking Tuchel, the Blues have frequently changed coaches and management.

While one might logically assume that the Londoners would have established a solid project by now, the club has remained uncertain about its direction. Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure seemed destined to fail, and his sacking is proof of a cultural misfit. 

Chelsea is known for its harsh environment, raising the question of how patient Todd Boehly will be with Maresca. The Italian newcomer has never managed in the Premier League, and the pressure of coaching a Top Six club is immense. The key will be for Maresca to not succumb to the non-footballing aspects of the job, a common pitfall for most promising managers. 

Chelsea has not seen success since sacking Thomas Tuchel; expectations are big, and the margins for error are small. 

Despite the challenges, Enzo Maresca is undoubtedly a forward-thinking choice for the club. If Chelsea remains patient with the Italian, this could mark the beginning of something big.

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