Two weeks after the dismissal of Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea announced the appointment of their new head coach—Enzo Maresca. This decision has sparked mixed reactions among the “Blues” fans, many of whom were unhappy with the departure of the Argentine coach. Although there are some doubts about whether Maresca can succeed in London, the club’s management stuck to their plan, turning their attention to the former manager of Leicester and Parma. However, bookmakers like Mostbet rate Chelsea’s chances of winning the title in the new season as nearly zero. Let’s try to understand what awaits the London club under Maresca this season.
Unexpected Appointment of a New Coach
After the decision to part ways with Pochettino was announced, details soon emerged about the profile of the head coach Chelsea was looking to replace him with. As reported at the time, Todd Boehly, Behdad Eghbali, and company preferred a young specialist who emphasizes possession-based football. Under Pochettino, the “Blues” often dominated possession, but it was difficult to discern the team’s playing style. There were some glimpses towards the end of the campaign, but for most of the season, there was a lack of organization among the Londoners.
If Chelsea indeed wanted a young specialist who aims to control the game, it’s not surprising that Maresca became the “Blues’” first choice. The Italian is a disciple of Pep Guardiola. He managed Manchester City’s youth team from 2020 to 2021 and served as one of the Spaniard’s assistants in the first team of the “Citizens” during the 2022/2023 season. Arriving at King Power Stadium last summer, Maresca wasted no time in instilling his ideas in Leicester’s players.
Maresca’s Playing Style: Possession and Control
Maresca structured his team in a 4-3-3 formation, which transformed into a 3-2-4-1 when in possession, with the right-back moving into a defensive midfield role. This setup helped maximize Leicester’s ball possession. In this regard, the “Foxes” ranked second in the Championship, only behind Southampton. The Italian remained steadfast in his principles throughout the season, and it paid off. If Chelsea is looking for a long-term playing identity, Maresca should be able to provide it. Playing in this manner, Leicester became the best team in the Championship, although not everything in this story was perfect.
Problems in the Second Half of the Season
After winning 13 of the first 14 matches of the season, there were talks that the “Foxes” would set a record for points in the second division. However, in November, they faced their first serious challenges with consecutive defeats to Leeds and Middlesbrough. After that, the situation began to change for the worse. Opponents increasingly took to the field, setting up in a low block and waiting for Leicester’s mistakes, which began to occur with alarming regularity. And although the “Foxes” continued to dominate possession, there was a sense that they were just keeping the ball for the sake of it.
However, Maresca was not ready to change, remaining committed to his style. Leicester continued to get results, but not as convincingly. From February 17 to April 12, the “Foxes” won only 3 out of 10 matches, allowing Ipswich and Leeds to enter the race for promotion. This could be a worrying sign for Chelsea fans, who remember another Italian coach who prioritized possession above all else. During Maurizio Sarri’s one season, Stamford Bridge was not a harmonious place. The coach was as stubborn as Maresca when it came to his style of play, and often, the “Blues’” approach did not sit well with fans. Even a Europa League triumph couldn’t secure the Italian’s place in London.
Maresca’s Challenges at Chelsea
Thus, Maresca faces the difficult task of not letting his relationship with Chelsea fans deteriorate. The club’s management is already unpopular with supporters, having created an era of complete chaos and sacking Pochettino just when things seemed to be improving on the field. If academy graduates like Conor Gallagher and Trevoh Chalobah are sold, as expected, the situation could become even more toxic. If Maresca fails to make a strong start to the season, establish a solid connection with the fans, and prove that his style of play is worth supporting, the chances of him seeing out his inexplicably long contract seem slim.
Maresca will also need support in the transfer market. A goalkeeper who is good with his feet is necessary to make his system work, and frankly, neither Robert Sánchez, Djordje Petrović, nor the returning Kepa Arrizabalaga are particularly suited to consistently participate in building attacks. This goalkeeper will likely be former Villarreal player Nikolai Jørgensen, who recently joined Chelsea. Will the coach be able to get more out of Malo Gusto and Reece James? More importantly, can the Italian find the right formula in midfield? Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández didn’t always look good under Pochettino, and there’s still a need to make room for Roméo Lavia. And in what position will Cole Palmer play? The answers to all these questions will be revealed very soon.