Southampton manager Russell Martin has been previewing his side’s upcoming fixture at home to Chelsea.
Chelsea travel down to St Mary’s on Wednesday night to play Southampton in the Premier League.
On paper, the Blues won’t face an easier opponent than the team bottom of the division table. It’s worth noting that the Saints got an impressive point away at Brighton on the weekend, though.
Southampton are without three key players versus Chelsea because Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Flynn Downes, and Tyler Dibling are all suspended.
The Blues are picking up momentum with three wins and two draws from their previous five league matches, which has lifted them to third in the table.
Enzo Maresca, Manager of Chelsea, acknowledges the fans following the team's victory during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Aston ...
Photo by Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Russell Martin applauds Chelsea for appointing Enzo Maresca
During his pre-match press conference, Southampton boss Martin has described his upcoming opponents as a fantastic team that is clicking into gear.
In particular, he thinks the Chelsea owners made a brilliant decision to appoint Enzo Maresca as the club’s head coach in the summer. Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali both agreed when appointing Maresca and stealing him away from Leicester City.
“I think Enzo’s done a great job. I’ve got a lot of respect for him and what he did at Leicester last season,” Martin told the Southern Daily Echo.
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“I’m really pleased for him that a club as big as Chelsea has recognised the work he did in the Championship and given him the credit because they were brilliant.
“I think sometimes the hardest thing for a coach to do is to take another team and make it his own and look very similar in such quick time, which he’s done.
“He has a really talented group of players, for sure, but he’s managed to get them to buy into his way of doing things his way of working and his way of playing.
“They are really starting to click into gear and get into flow a bit. Against Aston Villa on the weekend, they were excellent, really outstanding.”
Enzo Maresca off to a flyer at Chelsea
When you look back at all the negativity surrounding Stamford Bridge in the last couple of seasons, it’s quite remarkable how quickly Maresca has calmed things down both on and off the pitch.
Of course, the Italian coach is largely based on his side’s performances and result. So far this season, there’s been a lot to be positive about.
Games Wins Draws Losses
21 13 4 4
Enzo Maresca’s record at Chelsea across all competitions
Maurizio Sarri thinks Chelsea’s Maresca may become an elite coach after a positive start to life in West London. His appointment is certainly one of the biggest positives under this ownership to date.
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