Enzo Maresca has called on Romeo Lavia to do "much, much better" in a Chelsea shirt, but the head coach is happy with the midfielder's performances this season.
The 20-year-old missed almost the entirety of his debut campaign with the club, managed by Mauricio Pochettino then, because of numerous injury problems. Signed from Southampton in a deal that could rise to £58million, there is still so much more to come from Lavia at Stamford Bridge.
With eight Premier League appearances to his name this season, Lavia is expected to make his ninth - whether that is from the start or from the bench is a different question - against Southampton. The Belgium international made 34 appearances for the Saints in all competitions during his one season with the club.
Despite Southampton getting relegated that season, Lavia impressed in an underperforming side - prompting Chelsea to battle it out with Liverpool for his signature. Maresca, who also worked with the Belgian during his days at Manchester City, is happy with the midfielder's progress this season but has admitted there is still plenty more to come from the Chelsea man.
"Romeo is doing very, very good with us but because I know him very well, he can do much better," the Chelsea head coach said on Tuesday morning. "So I see Romeo at the moment, I'm very happy with Romeo, but Romeo can do better because he is a top player.
"He is 20-years-old and he has to improve many, many things. We are very happy with him but he can improve many things."
He added: "I trust him, for sure. Romeo, he didn't play Leicester away, so two games ago he was on the bench. I say always, because he is on the bench it doesn't mean we are not happy and he is not playing well. It depends on the game-plan."
Chelsea will travel down to the south coast today as they prepare to take on Southampton, who are in desperate need of points. The Saints have just five points from their opening 13 matches back in the top-flight, while Chelsea, to many, are now being spoken about as possible title challengers this term.
Maresca, though, throughout the Blues' positive start to the campaign, has been defiant that his team are not ready to compete with the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City.
"For sure, we want this momentum to continue, no doubt, but not because we are thinking to win the Premier League," the Italian said. "We want to continue winning games and then we will see. It's not because we are thinking to the end of the season."
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