During his time in English football so far, Enzo Maresca has impressed at Chelsea and Leicester City.
The ex-Manchester City assistant manager guided the Foxes to promotion to the top-flight and has now won the UEFA Conference League with the Blues, also guiding them to a Champions League spot in the table.
As the 45-year-old’s stock continues to rise, [Corriere della Sera](https://www.corriere.it/sport/calcio/25_giugno_11/enzo-maresca-intervista-eb3131cd-70b1-48d7-815e-a7dae8855xlk.shtml) spoke to him about a host of topics in an interview published in today’s newspaper.
Corriere della Sera that Maresca’s WhatsApp profile picture carries a Johan Cruyff quote which says: _“It is statistically proven that during a match, a player’s average ball possession is 3 minutes. This means that his value is determined by what he does in the other 87 minutes.”_
The Italian was asked about it and explained it’s something he takes inspiration from, and it’s even helped him at Chelsea and Leicester City.
_“It’s a maxim \[quote\] by Johan Cruijff. I had it written on the walls of the Leicester City dressing room two summers ago, and we won the Championship. Of course, I did it at Chelsea, too, and it didn’t go badly this year either.”_
When asked whether any player has contested his belief in that ideology, Maresca said: “_Maybe they discussed it among themselves, but I didn’t hear a single protest. The phrase needs to be understood. It doesn’t minimise the importance of talent, but it underlines how you can make yourself useful even when you don’t see the ball much.”_
He also stated Chelsea are currently a season ahead in their progress and overperforming on expectations.
_“We are a year ahead of the Champions League qualification, they had asked me for it in two seasons. As for the Conference, it is natural that its appeal is less than the other cups, but as I said in the first meeting, if Chelsea had qualified for that one it means they deserved to play in that one.”_
He made it clear that while Chelsea spend a lot, their approach is now improving.
_“But now they invest well, in the direction that modern football is going. Enzo Fernandez and Caicedo were paid a lot, but no one remembers their price anymore because of how much they have grown. Before, a lot was spent on players over thirty who had already given their best.”_
Maresca stated that his aim is to build a Blues side which mirrors how Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain played in their march towards a Champions League title win.
_“The premise is that I don’t want to give lessons to anyone. Having said that, the Champions League final photographed the dominance of a young team, capable of great technical plays expressed at an infernal pace, energy, running, pressing, offensive talent. Luis Enrique has built a spectacular PSG, in my own small way at Chelsea I try to do the same.”_
The interview shows again that the ex-Parma manager is quite clear about his ideas and thoughts about the game and that clarity is helping him achieve things in English football.
Leicester City struggled for stability and for an identity right after his exit. Chelsea proved to be a difficult club to manage before his arrival but Maresca has managed to address all the problems very efficiently.
It shows that there is every reason for the Italian press to be excited about his rise.