Enzo Maresca Thread

[Reddish-Blue 2,488]

4 hours ago, Vesper said:

We all know why Carney Chukwuemeka isn’t in the squad – because more money was spent on Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia. Even Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall can’t get into the squad at the moment, so Chukwuemeka will have no chance.

He's also not in the squad because he's more of an attacking mid than a central midfield player. 

[IMissEden 21]

He’s also not in the squad because he’s an erratic shit who takes too long to make every decision, barely different to the revised iconography of Loftus Cheek. Play half a mile slower in their minds than should. Is like every other player is elegant and then comes along a taxi with one wheel missing. And people compliment it.

[NikkiCFC 8,286]

There is something special between Chelsea and Italian managers. They are always successful here. 

Conte won PL and FA Cup

Ancelotti won PL, FA Cup and CS

RDM won CL and FA Cup 

Sarri won EL

Vialli won FA Cup, League Cup, CS, UEFA Super Cup and UEFA Cup Winners Cup

Ranieri didn't win trophies but did solid job as well. CL qualifications before Roman buy was massive. 

Maresca will be success as well. No doubt 🤌

[Vesper 30,081]

Should Chelsea be worried about their discipline problem?

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5808802/2024/10/02/Chelsea-discipline-yellow-cards/

Chelsea are well on track to beat their numbers from last season.

Normally such a statement would be regarded as a good thing, a reason to be optimistic. Chelsea are eight points better off at the same stage — six fixtures played — so results and performances are certainly providing cause to be so.

However, this is a piece highlighting a negative that needs to be addressed by head coach Enzo Maresca — and soon: the team’s poor disciplinary record.

In 2023-24 Chelsea broke a Premier League record for most yellow cards received in a single season. When Malo Gusto received the club’s last booking in the 78th minute of their final game against Bournemouth, it took their tally to 105 (plus four reds), beating the previous best (or worst depending on how you see it) of 101 set by Leeds in 2021-22. There were only two matches in the league campaign where Chelsea did not get a card (Manchester United away and Tottenham at home).

Those grim numbers were achieved under former head coach Mauricio Pochettino, but things do not seem to be improving under Maresca. Chelsea sit top of the bookings table again with 21 accrued in half a dozen fixtures. That works out as an average of 3.5 per game and if this rate is maintained, it would see the club end up with 133 by the end of May. According to whoscored.com, it also puts them in fourth spot among the top five leagues in Europe.

It can be argued that the numbers have been skewed by the Bournemouth fixture last month when referee Anthony Taylor booked eight Chelsea players. It was not one-way traffic as Bournemouth fell foul of the official six times themselves, meaning the 14 yellows (not including the two shown to the two head coaches), is another Premier League disciplinary record with Chelsea’s name on it.

But while some of the transgressions could be dismissed as a bit harsh that night, there were incidents where Taylor will argue he was not left with much choice and had to apply the letter of the law. Nicolas Jackson and Jadon Sancho were both punished for dissent. Renato Veiga was booked because he jumped into the crowd to celebrate Christopher Nkunku’s late winner.

But Bournemouth is not the only match where Chelsea have fallen foul with the referee. So far they boast a 100 per cent record in the Premier League in terms of at least one player being booked per match. Here is a breakdown of their wrongdoings in the six league fixtures they have played:

When The Athletic raised this topic with Maresca a week after the Bournemouth game, the Italian downplayed it. “I don’t think it is a discipline problem at all,” he said. “The Bournemouth game was the kind of game because of the pitch, because of the game, sometimes you are required to make some fouls.

“I don’t think it’s about that. The day after, I watched Arsenal and Tottenham and I think in the first-half there were seven or eight yellow cards, so the average was there.

“Have I spoken to the players about it? No, no, absolutely (not). It was a normal game and some of the yellow cards were probably avoidable from the referee, but he decided to go another way.”

Maresca’s views will have been treated with a lot of sympathy from a fanbase that is not shy in expressing their frustration whenever Taylor is in charge of one of their games — the events of the 2017 and 2020 FA Cup finals alone are usually met with swear words by the regulars at Stamford Bridge.

But Chelsea have not reached such large numbers of yellow cards over the last 13 months due to just one strict match official. They do need to look in the mirror.

As Maresca concedes, in a fast, tough, competitive sport, fouls do happen and on many occasions, a yellow card soon follows. But Chelsea are guilty of picking up a lot of ‘cheap’ bookings too. Look at this table below where we have taken away all the yellow cards shown for fouls since the start of last season. There are far too many for needless offences which could be easily avoided:

Football is an emotional game and players are not robots so no one should expect their players to be angels for 90 minutes every week. But 23 cards for dissent, with five already this season, is definitely far too many. There is a bit too much time-wasting going on as well.

Chelsea are not an overly physical team. Statistics compiled by Opta show they average 10.5 fouls per game. Only Brighton, Manchester City and Brentford make fewer. Their average for tackles is just 16.7 per match, which ranks them 16th in the Premier League. This shows that Maresca’s side are getting booked more than they should for how they play.

Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana, two of Maresca’s regulars in defence, are already on four bookings. Premier League rules dictate that you have to serve an automatic one-game ban if you get five in the first 19 fixtures. There is a two-match ban should you reach 10 yellows in 32 fixtures and a three-match ban for 15 yellows before the end of the season.

Jackson serves as an example of how you can avoid trouble when you put your mind to it. The striker was one of Chelsea’s worst offenders last season with nine yellow cards in the first 24 league matches. But he then went 11 league games (15 all competitions) without further punishment to avoid the two-game suspension.

Maresca has responded modestly to any questions regarding whether Chelsea can challenge for the title, saying there is a lot to improve in attack and defence. Trying to reduce the yellow card count should be added to the list.

 

[Ledg 643]

The only thing I can blame him for today are the late subs.

It was not suprising he wanted to ride the momentum after Noni's equalizer but he should've brought the attackers right after the goal.

Nico was a passanger the whole game and by the time we equalized Sancho was fading out of the game as well.

[Vesper 30,081]

Enzo Maresca needs solutions as injuries and bans threaten Chelsea progress

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5822645/2024/10/07/Chelsea-forest-maresca-fofana-colwill-cucurella-liverpool/

Premier League football is a weekly exercise in high-stakes problem-solving. Like most coaches, Enzo Maresca knows when his team does not have all the answers.

There was a reason, beyond mere expectation management, why Maresca insisted this week that Chelsea are not ready to compete with Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool at the top of the Premier League just yet. The contrasting experiences of their last two league games at Stamford Bridge succinctly summed up why.

Against Brighton & Hove Albion, as against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux last month, Chelsea proved they are even better equipped than last season to destroy teams who afford them space to attack. They can overwhelm less talented opponents who seek to do what they do: press the passer and pass through pressure.

Nottingham Forest arrived at Stamford Bridge determined to deploy asymmetric strategies.

You want to dominate open play? We will look for set pieces. You want to control the ball on the ground? We will control the air. You want to play fast? We will waste time on every restart. You want to press us into turnovers? We will grab the ball in both hands to stop you from getting away.

 

Marc Cucurella, who is now suspended, and Maresca at the final whistle (Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

James Ward-Prowse’s second yellow card is likely to be the funniest seen in the Premier League all season, but it was also indicative of Forest’s broader approach. Nuno Espirito Santo’s team were dogged in a low block that only got lower after being reduced to 10 men, but were unerringly wily. They were every bit as sure of their own advantages as they were of their limitations and utterly focused on dictating the terms of engagement.

Chelsea controlled the first 49 minutes, but it was no great shock when they were stung by a well-worked set piece.

Even with an extra man, they gave up almost as many good chances to lose the game during 13 mad minutes of stoppage time as they generated to win it. They also got sucked into a mass brawl that came within one rush of blood to the head (beyond Nicolas Jackson’s moment of silliness to strike Morato) of returning the two teams to equal numbers.

On another day — perhaps one on which Matz Sels does not react with such spectacular agility to deny two quick Cole Palmer shots after a genius first-time flick around a defender, or one on which Joao Felix finds the target with a surprisingly towering header — Chelsea might have won this game anyway.

 

Sels was inspired in the Nottingham Forest goal (Clive Mason/Getty Images)

The point is that days like this one happen, and tend to happen fairly frequently in the Premier League, to teams who are less than fully formed.

Maresca will be less worried about the problems his Chelsea team could not solve against Forest than the ones he now faces on the other side of the October international break. Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana are both suspended for the trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool, having picked up their fifth yellow cards in seven appearances on Sunday.

Levi Colwill signalled to Maresca early in the second half that he had pulled something on his left side, and was substituted in clear discomfort in added time. Noni Madueke also limped heavily out of the mass brawl, though Maresca was keen to play down both issues in his post-match press conference.

Last but not least, Jackson could also face retrospective action from the Football Association for striking Morato, even though the VAR mysteriously decided that his actions fell short of violent conduct.

 

Players, staff and substitutes from both sides clash on the touchline late on (Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images)

Add all of those together and Chelsea could look very different against Liverpool. Any suspension for Jackson may not spark much anxiety in supporters if it means giving Christopher Nkunku a chance in the Premier League, while Pedro Neto’s increasing sharpness makes it easier to stomach a short Madueke absence, despite his well-taken goal against Forest.

The defence is a different story.

Chelsea have not exactly been shutting down opponents in the Premier League — of their two clean sheets in seven games, the one recorded against Bournemouth was highly fortunate — but there has at least been a consistency in selection and a sense of growing familiarity within the unit.

Colwill and Fofana in particular show real promise as a partnership, with highly complementary skill sets and styles. Malo Gusto looks more comfortable ‘inverting’ into midfield by the week, and Cucurella has built on his Euro 2024 form by providing a consistent, effective nuisance to opponents. Behind them, Robert Sanchez rebounded from several bad errors against Brighton to make a series of excellent, vital saves against Forest.

Only a minor injury to Gusto has disrupted that back five in Chelsea’s first seven Premier League games, but Maresca is certain to be without Cucurella and Fofana against Liverpool and may also have a difficult decision to make about the readiness of Colwill, who punctuated a largely impressive display against Forest by brilliantly blocking a goal-bound Ryan Yates shot towards the end of the first half.

 

Colwill squares up to Neco Williams (Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images)

As highlighted by his decision to square up to Neco Williams after the Wales international sent Cucurella flying into Maresca in the Chelsea technical area, Colwill is also a leading purveyor of the “spirit” that his head coach referenced repeatedly in his post-match press conference. If he is not fit enough to play against Liverpool, that might be missed most of all.

Tosin Adarabioyo and Benoit Badiashile are capable players who will be motivated to seize an opportunity like this one, but their partnership did not fully convince in the Conference League league-phase opener against Gent. Axel Disasi looks unlikely to be picked at centre-back ahead of either. Renato Veiga has shown flashes of improvement and increasing assurance in recent weeks, but that progress is insufficient to put the mind at ease when the assignment is defending Mohamed Salah at Anfield.

“We have the international break, time to see how we can organise,” Maresca said when asked about the suspensions Cucurella and Fofana must now serve. The problems never stop coming in the Premier League, and the next two weeks might constitute the biggest test yet of Chelsea’s head coach and his ability to provide solutions.

GO DEEPER

The Briefing: Chelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest - Madueke's threat, centre-half promise but was Maresca proved right?

Edited October 8, 2024 by Vesper

[Vesper 30,081]

Credit to Enzo Maresca for strong start at Chelsea

https://thedailybriefing.io/i/149996680/credit-to-enzo-maresca-for-strong-start-at-Chelsea

It’s been a really strong start to the season for Chelsea and I think Enzo Maresca deserves credit after his arrival this summer in what was not the easiest moment. Mauricio Pochettino had also done well towards the end of last season, but the club decided to go in a different direction, though it now looks like it’s proved to be a smart call, even on an inexperienced name in his first Premier League job.

I’m told that Maresca is having a very good impact on these players on the tactical point of view, and also the results of that have clearly been good. But most important part is the feeling he created with the players; they’re all very happy with Maresca, how direct and clear he is, also the fans are appreciating that and you can feel a different atmosphere at Stamford Bridge this season.

Full credit to Maresca for the job he’s done so far - the start has been excellent but this project is obviously a long term one, so there might still be a few ups and downs, but let’s give him time to continue his impressive work.

[Vesper 30,081]

https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/news/league-winning-manager-turned-down-the-Chelsea-job-before-it-went-to-enzo-maresca/

snip

Chelsea tried to hire Simone Inzaghi before Enzo Maresca

The Italian won Serie A last season, and has made an appearance in the Champions League final too.

It looks as if Chelsea took a real interest in Inzaghi, with Il Corriere Dello Sport claiming that the Blues made an approach to make him their manager before they eventually hired Maresca.

A number of Chelsea players have been full of praise for the current manager since he joined the club, with Levi Colwill saying the boss is behind his good form this season.

Maresca doing well with big squad

The England international is an example of a player the new boss is getting the best out of, with him featuring in a centre-back role that he very rarely occupied last season.

Maresca faced a tough job from the off at Stamford Bridge due to the magnitude of the first team squad, and the quality players that he was going to have to leave out of the matchday squad every week.

He has been praised for how he has dealt with this mostly though, with him being pretty ruthless when it came to how he managed Raheem Sterling at the start of the season.

There is plenty of excitement over watching Chelsea amongst supporters at the moment, and that has been a result of Maresca’s impressive start to life in West London.

[Vesper 30,081]

Enzo Maresca states Chelsea ‘not happy’ after Liverpool defeat: ‘We don’t like losing games’

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5857420/2024/10/20/enzo-maresca-Chelsea-liverpool/

Enzo Maresca says Chelsea “are not happy” with their 2-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, emphasising that his side “don’t like losing games” and felt they controlled much of the match.

Despite having more possession and goal attempts (12), Curtis Jones’ second-half winner kept Arne Slot’s side top of the Premier League on Sunday, as Chelsea’s efforts went unrewarded.

Maresca’s side dominated for long spells but were undone by Jones’ decisive goal after Mohamed Salah had opened the scoring from the penalty spot.

Chelsea responded with a well-taken equaliser from Nicolas Jackson, but Jones’ strike proved the difference.

Despite the defeat, Maresca remained upbeat about his team’s display, praising their control of the game while admitting frustration at the result.

GO DEEPER

The Briefing: Liverpool 2 Chelsea 1 - Slot passes first Big-Six test, Jones' influence and Palmer nullified

“I think the performance was very good,” Maresca said. “I just said, we don’t like losing games, dropping points but if you have to decide the way, then this is probably the way. I’ve been in the stadium many times and have seen Liverpool for a long time, it’s not easy.

“I think overall, we controlled the game and for most parts of the game we dominated the game, but we lost. We are not happy. We don’t like (it) but as I said, the performance on and off the ball was very good.”

Despite a strong finish from Chelsea, Liverpool held firm to maintain their position at the summit of the table with 21 points from eight games, one more than Manchester City, who also won earlier in the day against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are in sixth place on 14 points.

[Reddish-Blue 2,488]

In the next few weeks, we got Newcastle, Man United and Arsenal.   

Will be interesting to see if we're able to get more than 3 points

[milka 3,390]

You can beat the teams like Brighton , Wolves but you can see you are nowhere near City and Liverpool even after 1bn spend . Top 4 this season no more excuses  Clownlake.

[King Kante 1,643]

I think he has done well. He has implemented a style and pattern of play. That is not something Potter or Poch did. 

There are obviously some draw backs currently, namely the quality of the CB's and GK. However, if people actually think back it took Pep 12-14 months/two summer windows to fully settle Man City into this style. 

My only real issue ATM is that he he has Palmer dropping into midfield too much where I prefer him closer to goal. However, I am hoping with Lavia coming back we will see Palmer move up as Caicedo and Enzo together struggle to move the ball through midfield well enough.