Maresca left Chelsea this seasonplaceholder image
Maresca left Chelsea this season | Getty Images
One Chelsea star has explained the change of approach under Liam Rosenior compared to Enzo Maresca.
The last two have been much-needed results for Chelsea, who had struggled for a couple of weeks before that, failing to beat Leeds United and Burnley.
Under Liam Rosenior, Chelsea have generally trended upwards, although some of the deficiencies of this team that we saw under Maresca have still surfaced.
One player who has been key to Chelsea’s efforts under Rosenior has been summer signing Joao Pedro, who has likely been the player of the season. The Brazilian has 18 goals and nine assists across all competitions, including eight goals in his last eight Premier League games.
Joao Pedro did show some good form under Maresca, but he has hit his best form under Rosenior. Addressing that in an interview with UEFA, the Brazilian forward said: “I think my form is largely down to the conversations I’ve had with Liam, from him showing that he genuinely wants to help me improve.
“When you feel that support from the manager, you push yourself harder every day, and because of that, I’m improving steadily.”
Although aimed as a compliment to Rosenior, those comments do sound like a dig at Maresca, who seemingly did not offer the same level of support, given Joao Pedro is describing it as something new following the arrival of his new boss.
Either way, the forward is going to be vital to Chelsea’s hopes of landing a top four finish this season, as shown by his hat-trick against Aston Villa in the last league outing. But first comes that all-important Champions League first leg with PSG.
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