Chelsea certainly have a rich history of Italian managers, which continued in the summer when Enzo Maresca took charge as the new head coach at Stamford Bridge.
Enzo Maresca, 44, became the Chelsea manager before the season started. So far, the Blues have 12 wins, four draws and four defeats in 20 games across all competitions.
Ian Wright says Maresca has been ruthless at Chelsea since he arrived in west London, particularly with how he’s managed the squad and group of players.
He became the seventh Italian boss at Chelsea by following in the footsteps of Gianluca Vialli, Claudio Ranieri, Carlo Ancelotti, Roberto Di Matteo, Antonio Conte, and Maurizio Sarri.
Enzo Maresca, Manager of Chelsea, speaks to the media after the UEFA Conference League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between 1. FC Heidenheim 1846...
Photo by Sebastian Widmann – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Maurizio Sarri predicts big things for Enzo Maresca
Sarri, 65, is a high-profile manager who won the Europa League during his one year in charge of Chelsea back in the 2018/19 season.
He’s explained that he’s an admirer of the man currently sat in the Blues dugout. In fact, he’s predicted that Maresca has the potential to become one of the elite managers in Europe.
“Maresca is an Italian coach but is more an international coach. Maresca in Italy worked only for one or two seasons, no more. He has worked more in Italy than in England,” Sarri told The Sun.
“He is a very young coach. We have to wait I think but at the moment the work at Chelsea is going well. He has the possibility to become one of the best in Europe.”
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Paul Scholes previously admitted he was wrong to doubt Maresca at Chelsea because he didn’t predict he’d start so impressively. He certainly was not the only sceptic when the coach left Leicester City in the summer and arrived at the Bridge.
It’s still only the end of November and there’s a long way to go in the season, but there’s definitely a feel-good factor that has returned to the Blues under Maresca’s watch.
As it stands, the Blues are sitting third in the Premier League table. Also, they’re top of the Conference League group phase.
Key Chelsea players under Enzo Maresca
There was so much change to the starting line-up last year at Chelsea under Mauricio Pochettino, but things have looked different so far this season.
While Maresca has shuffled his pack for various cup competitions, the starting XI for the Premier League has looked pretty consistent.
There’s five players in the Chelsea squad that have started every league match so far this season:
Robert Sanchez (Goalkeeper)
Levi Colwill (Defender)
Moises Caicedo (Midfielder)
Cole Palmer (Attacking midfielder)
Nicolas Jackson (Striker)
The emergence of a core in the Blues line-up has definitely been a positive factor in Chelsea’s positive form in the opening few months of the campaign. Now, can they continue that run into a busy festive schedule?
Alan Pardew says Chelsea boss Maresca looks relaxed on the sideline, which must be a great feeling for his players.
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