Chelsea defender Levi Colwill has thrown his weight behind manager Enzo Maresca, hailing themanager’s ‘amazing‘tactical philosophy and approach to the game.
Marescaseemed to be at odds with some Chelsea supporters after lastweekend’s narrow 1-0 win against Leicester in the Premier League.
The Blues prioritised control over a gung-ho brand of football but struggled to create worthwhile goalscoring chances.
Manywere expecting them to breeze past the relegation-threatened Foxes, but the Blues struggled to break downLeicester’s defensive organisation.
Frustration began seeping through Stamford Bridge as time ticked away, butMarc Cucurella popped up with a brilliant individual effort to break the deadlock on the hour mark.
The Spaniard provedto be the match-winner, sending the Blues back into the top four, two points clear of Manchester City in fifth place.
After the match, Maresca played down calls for a more attacking approach, arguing that some fans expect unrealistic “PlayStation football”.
Speaking ahead of Thursdaynight’s second-leg clash against Copenhagen in the Europa Conference League last 16, Colwill lept to the defence of the Italian head coach.
The England international praised the impact of his methods on the squad.
“The way he teaches us every day is amazing,it’s been top,”Colwill said (viaChelsea’s official website).
“I really enjoy playing under him and Iknow everyone in the changing room does too.
“Over time,we’ll get better and better because of him.
“I’m always going back to the coach because I lovethe way he plays football – I lovethe ideas he has. I thinkhe’s amazing.”
Maresca fielded a second-string starting line-up in the first leg in Denmark, and his side came away with a 2-1 victory.
Reece James broke the deadlock with only his second goal of the season just minutes into the second half before Enzo Fernandez came off the bench to give the Blues a two-goal cushion.
Copenhagen pulled one back late on, but Chelsea saw off the Danish champions to take a slender lead back to the Bridge.