While sure I nonetheless absolutely consider it is a HUGE threat and I’ve MASSIVE issues about this appointment, I’ll assist Enzo Maresca as Chelsea head coach, and there are definitely positives.
He’s been employed because of his type of play, with Chelsea wanting to regulate video games with possession-based soccer.
We all know that Maresca will use inverted full-backs, and that’s a part of what made Leicester extra dominant in video games final season.
Chelsea have Reece James and Marc Cucurella (if he’s not offered) as two good inverted full again choices on both aspect, and they’re going to additionally have the ability to change in-game. I might be excited to see James in an inverted function, as a result of I’ve all the time cherished the thought of him taking part in as a defensive midfielder and really feel he might thrive there.
This brings me to my first ‘want’ for Maresca, doubtlessly one other left again. Chelsea might promote one or each of Cucurella and Ben Chilwell this summer time, and with how Maresca units up, if it is only one going, you’d be inclined to suppose it might be Chilwell. The England worldwide fits a again 5 higher than a again three, and I’m not positive he will be an inverted full again. Even when Cucurella stays, Chelsea might want to deliver a brand new left again I consider, one who could be extra suited to being inverted. Or perhaps Chilwell will be inverted? Solely Maresca will know that.
Constructing from the again is one other key characteristic of each Guardiola’s and Maresca’s video games. One of many Italian’s first signings at Leicester Metropolis was goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, who not solely grew to become one of many Championship’s high shot-stoppers, however was additionally comfy together with his toes.
That is the following ‘want’ as a result of let’s be sincere, none of Robert Sanchez or Djordje Petrovic would fill anybody with confidence of having the ability to step up as a real sweeper-keeper with the excessive requirements of high quality with the ball at their toes. For me, Chelsea will completely want a brand new goalkeeper extra suited to play this manner.
Cole Palmer will likely be a key participant for Maresca, as he could be for any supervisor, and I consider he’ll look to Palmer to be one in every of his chief creators.
Maresca additionally loves to make use of 1v1 wingers who can take a person on and get previous them to create.
Do Chelsea have such wingers to meet the one-v-one ambitions of Maresca? I’m not so positive. Noni Madueke might be a key characteristic, Raheem Sterling is an effective 1v1 winger, Mykhailo Mudryk not a lot when it comes to skillset however does have the tempo to do it. Cole Palmer is a creator. Christopher Nkunku is extra of a ten.
Chelsea will in all probability want one other winger. Can Michael Olise match that? Will probably be fascinating to see who we go for as one other key piece to the Maresca puzzle, proper?
The striker is clear for me, everybody is aware of we want a brand new striker and that goes with out saying. Even if you happen to extremely fee Nicolas Jackson, you’ll know we want greater than only one quantity 9 in our squad. Jackson by the way in which, perhaps he might be a 1v1 winger out on the left? I’ve all the time most popular him taking part in in from the left.
One participant who won’t go well with so nicely in a dominant possession-based type of play will likely be Conor Gallagher, and perhaps that may simply be one more reason why Chelsea are wanting extremely more likely to promote him.
