Enzo Maresca has received a lot of plaudits since taking over Chelsea last year, and rightly so.
In his first season at Stamford Bridge, he was able to guide Chelsea to the Club World Cup and Conference League trophies.
Maresca was also able to secure Champions League qualification for the Blues. While they sit in seventh currently, Chelsea are being backed to finish in the top four again.
The club’s recent trophy success is not the only reason why the Italian deserves credit, though.
Chelsea defender Reece James speaking to Enzo Maresca
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Enzo Maresca has managed Chelsea’s injury-prone players excellently
Maresca inherited a Chelsea squad with several players who have poor injury records, including Reece James, Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia.
Fortunately, James looks to have got over his woes, with the Chelsea captain featuring in all 10 of his side’s Premier League games this term.
To put that into perspective, back in the 2023/24 season before Maresca’s arrival, James only played 10 league matches in the whole campaign.
Reece James’ Premier League record since 2023 Number of appearances
2025/26 10
2024/25 19
2023/24 10
Since returning to full fitness, Maresca has opted against starting James twice in a single week, which appears to have benefitted the defender.
Maresca may have been tempted to at times, with James being one of the team’s best players. But he has been extremely cautious with the England international, as well as with Fofana and Lavia.
Fofana has actually been fit for most of the season, yet the Chelsea head coach has only started him three times in the top flight. He is taking things slowly with the central defender and avoiding risks, and that is great management.
Fofana is one of Maresca’s favourite players, so the 45-year-old will not want to lose him to injury again.
Enzo Maresca and Romeo Lavia speaking after Chelsea against Manchester United in the Premier League.
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Enzo Maresca wants to protect Romeo Lavia from more injuries
Lavia and Benoit Badiashile will now be Maresca’s biggest concerns, with the latter currently out injured.
However, Badiashile should return this month in a boost to Chelsea, while Lavia is currently available.
After all of his injury problems, though, Maresca has stated that he will protect Lavia, suggesting that he will not start the midfielder every week just because he is fit again.
“I would like to have Romeo inside the pitch always but it’s my duty to also try to protect him,” Maresca said in his latest pre-match press conference via Chelsea’s official club website.
Again, that kind of management is superb, and the former Leicester City boss deserves credit for it.