Vesper

Pass on Viktor Gyokeres atm. Just had knee surgery.

Enzo Maresca: Why Chelsea have made Leicester boss new head coach Enzo Maresca is set to become Chelsea's new head coach, replacing Mauricio Pochettino; The 'Marescalator' will take charge at Stamford Bridge after just 67 games in management, and one full season in English football with Leicester City in the Championship https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11668/13144295/enzo-maresca-why-Chelsea-have-made-leicester-boss-new-head-coach When Enzo Maresca arrived at Leicester last summer, he made a small but symbolic change to the club's training ground - to remember Claudio Ranieri. At the entrance to their Seagrave set-up, players arrived to see images on the walls of Leicester's FA Cup and Community Shield victories in 2021. But there was no recognition of the miraculous 2016 Premier League triumph. Maresca decided to put Ranieri's title win on the wall alongside those achievements. The move was less of a surprise given Ranieri was one of the first people to call Maresca when the Italian was handed the Foxes job last year. But perhaps another call is needed, as Maresca takes on another of Ranieri's former clubs in Chelsea. Despite having managed less than 70 senior matches, just 53 in England and none in the Premier League, Maresca is set to become Mauricio Pochettino's successor at Stamford Bridge after agreeing terms on a five-year deal. Even so, he arrives with high expectations. The 44-year-old will take on the job in similar circumstances to when Ranieri arrived in 2000 - with demands to reach the Champions League. Pochettino's surprise departure from Stamford Bridge largely boiled down to the Blues missing out on the top four. Chelsea's owners watched last month's Champions League semi-finals wondering why such a stage was not within the club's reach. But despite his relative inexperience, Chelsea do not just see Maresca as a manager capable of getting them into Europe's premier club competition. They want an attractive style of football, based on possession and dominance. His attachment and schooling within the Pep Guardiola philosophy plays a major part in their thinking. A Manchester City-lite style of play is what Maresca has brought to Leicester during his year at the King Power. That same patient play which ranks Guardiola's side bottom of the Premier League for forward-pass proportion year after year was embedded almost overnight - in the Championship only Southampton's percentage was lower than Leicester's last season. "Maresca is so embedded in that Guardiola style of play that he was always going to attract interest when he was able to make that style successful - and that's what he's done at Leicester," Jordan Blackwell, Leicester correspondent at the Leicester Mercury, told Sky Sports. "It felt like the club had thought outside the box to bring Maresca in, a man with a lot of tactical knowledge whose acumen has been raved about. That's not only as Pep's assistant but with Man City U21s and a first-team coach at West Ham." The similarities between Pep-ball and the man known as the 'Marescalator' are noticeable. For example, Leicester brought in an effective use of inverted full-backs under the Italian this season. Ricardo Pereira, the rampaging right-back Premier League audiences remember from two years ago, operated in the middle of the pitch in Maresca's season at Leicester. But Maresca actually went one step further when it comes to his full-backs. If the Italian would rather invert a full-back from the left wing, then Pereira would simply swap flanks with his opposite defender, leaving opponents guessing as to Leicester's shape. A good example came when Pereira moved over during a 4-1 win over Huddersfield - a match where the Portuguese full-back ended up with a goal and an assist. This tactical tweak could be a good fit for Chelsea, who deployed Marc Cucurella as an inverted left-back during the season run-in. From the moment the Spaniard's position was tweaked at half-time of Chelsea's match with Aston Villa in April, the Blues won every single game. Building from the back is another key feature of both Guardiola's and Maresca's games. One of the Italian's first signings was goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, who not only became one of the Championship's top shot-stoppers, but was also comfortable with his feet. Maresca would allow Hermansen to venture out of his goal to give an extra player in the build-up and form a back two with Jannik Vestegaard. Such moves would end with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall providing the finishing touch at the other end of the pitch, with the Leicester midfielder ending the Championship season with 12 goals and four assists. The identity of Chelsea's chief creator under Maresca is yet to be known, but signs could point towards a certain Cole Palmer, given the Italian oversaw his progression from youth prospect to first-team player at Manchester City as their Elite Development Squad manager. Elsewhere in the final third, Maresca - like Guardiola and another disciple in Mikel Arteta - uses wingers who fall under the category of 'one-on-one explorers'. Stephy Mavididi and Abdul Fatawu had the most one-on-one duels in the Championship last season. These are categories that the likes of Jeremy Doku, Jack Grealish, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have dominated in the Premier League in recent years. Maresca is, like Guardiola, wedded to his style. He lives or dies by it. In the end, that has proven successful, but it is also why he will leave some detractors in the King Power stands despite leading them to the Championship title. A 3-1 win over Swansea in January took the Foxes 10 points clear at the top of the table. But it was overshadowed by Maresca's barbed post-match comments, after the Italian was less than impressed with a lack of support from the terraces. "Probably people think it's easy to win games, but it's not easy," he said. "You can feel the fans when they're not happy. Probably some people take some things for granted. But it's not like this. "I arrived at this club to play with this idea. The moment there is some doubt about the idea, the day after, I will leave. It's so clear. No doubts." Perhaps it was the inevitable growing expectations. Perhaps the lack of jeopardy mixed with the playing style just fostered a degree of apathy; Leicester had won 22 of 29 league matches at the time of his comments. But the growing lack of a Plan B would go on to cause further exasperation around the club, especially on a run of 10 points from as many games between mid-February and April. "Fans were thinking the club was eight months into the season now, clubs were learning how Leicester play and how to stop it, but Maresca wasn't doing anything to get past it," said Blackwell. "They kept playing the same way. But that is him. He's decided what the best way of playing is, the most successful way, and he's not going to change it. "He says he has a Plan B, but it has been Pereira playing as a No 10 when he moves into midfield rather than as a sitting midfielder." This is not to take anything away from Maresca's methods. Harry Winks, who has worked under Pochettino, Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho, has called him the best manager he has ever played for. "The Leicester players have spoken about feeling a bit stupid when he came in, he was teaching things they'd never considered or thought about, totally different ways of thinking about the game," added Blackwell. It took several months for his new side to fully get their heads around the consistent and relentless demands of his playing style, but his methods were evident and becoming ingrained even in a first pre-season friendly with Peterborough in early July. Given those demands, Maresca was efficient at getting his message across. Winks himself noted another win over Swansea, only Leicester's 12th league game of the campaign and their 11th victory, as the moment where things really began to click. Despite falling 1-0 down in South Wales, the Foxes stuck to their style, refused to be rushed, and wore their hosts down before emerging comfortable winners. That determination, sometimes crossing the line into stubbornness, is unlikely to change at Stamford Bridge. But Maresca's public persona may have to, if he is to survive longer than his Todd Boehly-era predecessors. The same evening Leicester wrapped up the Championship title, he used his position of strength to announce unprompted he wanted to sit down with Leicester's owners to discuss things he "didn't like" from the season. The Foxes' rocky financial situation has been tempered by the embarrassment of riches in his squad, but communication issues with those above him have been a bugbear for the Italian all season. They came to a head on Deadline Day in January when Stefano Sensi's proposed move from Inter Milan was called off at, literally, the 11th hour. The scale of the issues which led to the Premier League charging Leicester with FFP breaches, and the potential points deduction facing the club next season, were also seemingly kept from him. "If Chelsea are looking for a yes man, he's not that person," said Blackwell. "He will say things in the media the club would probably be kept private. "If you've got a manager who's willing to do public power plays in the media, that would put some clubs off. It doesn't seem to align with what Chelsea seem to want - but he is a pure coach. "He's been quick to say he doesn't want more control, he's happy with his job being on the training pitch, organising the team tactically. He just wants to know what's going on." In the new manager requirements set out by the Chelsea board, one of the categories included being 'able to compete with Guardiola and Arteta'. Whether Maresca can guide the Blues to those heights is a major talking point, but if Boehly is looking for a disciple of the much-admired pair, he has found one in the Italian.

Real Madrid set new lower 'price limit' in Alphonso Davies pursuit Real Madrid hoping to sign Alphonso Davies for as little as possible Canadian left-back a long-term target for new La Liga champions Bayern Munich contract talks haven't progressed in recent months https://www.90min.com/real-madrid-set-new-lower-price-limit-alphonso-davies Real Madrid are reported to have set themselves a price limit when it comes to signing Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies this summer. Davies has been a long-term target for Madrid and will imminently enter the final year of his contract with Bayern, limiting what the German giants can realistically get for him in way of a transfer fee. But the threat of him potentially leaving as a free agent in 2025 could force Bayern's hand to sell if no new deal is agreed. Davies and Bayern are believed to have been at an impasse as far as contract negotiations are concerned, with the player seeking a salary befitting his status as one of the best in the world in his position. The club have made their offer, which falls short of what the Davies camp asked for. Madrid seem calm. Relevo writes that their plan is to sign Davies for as little as possible, capitalising of the situation that has so far unfolded, with a potential price range of just €30m to €35m. That is down further from a previous estimation of €40m. They look set to play hard ball over the possible fee to keep it low and have the added advantage of two existing left-backs in Ferland Mendy and Fran Garcia they appear prepared to go into 2024/25 with. It means they are not desperate to buy, which could hurt Bayern's negotiating position. Even for a player entering the final year of a contract, an upper limit of €35m seems low for someone of Davies' calibre and reputation. For reference, Transfermarkt currently values him at €50m. A report in Germany in March also suggested Bayern's price tag had been set at €60m. Madrid are not the only club interested in Davies. But, as 90min reported in November, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain have been reluctant to put too much into any sort of approach due to the belief that the player has his heart set on a move to the Bernabeu. Davies himself has refused to rule out leaving Bayern, telling reporters after the recent Champions League semi-final second leg in Madrid that he is grateful to the club "whatever happens".

Chelsea not pursuing Victor Osimhen as of now, paving way for PSG Romelu Lukaku ‘expected to leave’

the only one recently (as in the last 3 or 4 years) to fully recover from a horrific injury was RLC he was really good at AC Milan this season

Diogo Costa

Lima has insane potential

this!

you do realise this article is 2 years old?

agree

pure troll account it looks like will say anything to get noticed and to shit-stir

wow, that really looks like t could be a real vid

FUZZRIDER - Dusk Till Dawn Greek hard rock/blues band from Athens

🤣

Been saying it for a couple years now. I no longer rate Oblak as the best option at all. That door has closed. His form has been pretty shit.

Arteta got buy in.

Matvey Safonov to Paris Saint-Germain, here we go! Agreement sealed for Russian GK to join PSG from Krasnodar as revealed on Sunday. €20m package agreed, add-ons included. Contract until June 2029 for Safonov who’s set to sign after medical tests.

nope do not care I am putting my foot down for one of the extremely rare times

Enzo Maresca to Chelsea - why they’re convinced he’s the man for the job https://thedailybriefing.io/i/145048819/enzo-maresca-to-Chelsea-why-theyre-convinced-hes-the-man-for-the-job Enzo Maresca will be the new Chelsea manager - unless something crazy happens in the next 48 hours. It will be a ‘here we go’ soon because the latest contacts between Maresca and Chelsea were super positive. Maresca wants to go to Chelsea and never had any doubts despite some reports suggesting that maybe he wants to stay at Leicester. Although he loves and respects Leicester, it’s been very clear ever since Chelsea entered this story that Maresca wants to be the next Chelsea manager. Maresca believes in the Chelsea project around young players with a big future, he thinks it is a really exciting project. Meanwhile, Chelsea are convinced he’s a super talented coach and that’s why he’s a name appreciated by both directors and owners, all convinced he can be the man for present and future. Maresca’s obsession with ball possession, quality football, dominating the game, his knowledge of elite football despite being a young manager - all of this made the difference for Chelsea to pick him. Talks are now really at the final stages, and it’s expected to happen soon. The salary is agreed and it’s just about the length of the contract. The feeling is that it could be a five-year contract, longer than they initially thought, and they are just discussing this final detail, but the feeling is that they are almost there. What’s missing is just an agreement between Chelsea and Leicester on compensation, also for Maresca’s staff, but it’s just a matter of days or maybe even hours and then everything will be done for Maresca to become the new Chelsea manager. So, that will be ‘here we go’ soon and then it will continue to be a busy summer at Chelsea. It won’t be completely crazy but they will try to make smart things happen, including a new goalkeeper and I expect them to try for at least one new centre-back, but it could be two. I also expect Chelsea to be busy with the striker position, and I mentioned many times Benjamin Sesko, who is highly rated at Chelsea but also by others like Arsenal and Manchester United.

understatement of the year so far, lololol

and did it in their hated rival's (AEK) home stadium

shades of 2004

if they hold on it is the first ever European trophy for a Greek club

1 nil Olympiakos