While sure I nonetheless absolutely imagine it is a HUGE threat and I’ve MASSIVE issues about this appointment, I’ll help Enzo Maresca as Chelsea head coach, and there are definitely positives.
He’s been employed resulting from his model of play, with Chelsea wanting to regulate video games with possession-based soccer.
We all know that Maresca will use inverted full-backs, and that’s a part of what made Leicester extra dominant in video games final season.
Chelsea have Reece James and Marc Cucurella (if he’s not bought) as two good inverted full again choices on both facet, and they’ll additionally be capable to swap in-game. I’d be excited to see James in an inverted position, as a result of I’ve at all times beloved the thought of him taking part in as a defensive midfielder and really feel he may thrive there.
This brings me to my first ‘want’ for Maresca, doubtlessly one other left again. Chelsea may promote one or each of Cucurella and Ben Chilwell this summer season, and with how Maresca units up, if it is only one going, you’d be inclined to assume it might be Chilwell. The England worldwide fits a again 5 higher than a again three, and I’m not certain he might be an inverted full again. Even when Cucurella stays, Chelsea might want to convey a brand new left again I imagine, one who can be extra suited to being inverted. Or perhaps Chilwell might be inverted? Solely Maresca will know that.
Constructing from the again is one other key function of each Guardiola’s and Maresca’s video games. One of many Italian’s first signings at Leicester Metropolis was goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, who not solely turned one of many Championship’s high shot-stoppers, however was additionally snug together with his ft.
That is the subsequent ‘want’ as a result of let’s be trustworthy, none of Robert Sanchez or Djordje Petrovic would fill anybody with confidence of having the ability to step up as a real sweeper-keeper with the excessive requirements of high quality with the ball at their ft. For me, Chelsea will completely want a brand new goalkeeper extra suited to play this fashion.
Cole Palmer might be a key participant for Maresca, as he can be for any supervisor, and I imagine he’ll look to Palmer to be one in every of his chief creators.
Maresca additionally loves to make use of 1v1 wingers who can take a person on and get previous them to create.
Do Chelsea have such wingers to satisfy the one-v-one ambitions of Maresca? I’m not so certain. Noni Madueke might be a key function, Raheem Sterling is an effective 1v1 winger, Mykhailo Mudryk not a lot when it comes to skillset however does have the tempo to do it. Cole Palmer is a creator. Christopher Nkunku is extra of a ten.
Chelsea will most likely want one other winger. Can Michael Olise match that? Will probably be fascinating to see who we go for as one other key piece to the Maresca puzzle, proper?
The striker is clear for me, everybody is aware of we want a brand new striker and that goes with out saying. Even should you extremely charge Nicolas Jackson, you’ll know we want greater than only one quantity 9 in our squad. Jackson by the best way, perhaps he might be a 1v1 winger out on the left? I’ve at all times most popular him taking part in in from the left.
One participant who may not swimsuit so nicely in a dominant possession-based model of play might be Conor Gallagher, and perhaps that can simply be one more reason why Chelsea are trying extremely more likely to promote him.
