Enzo Maresca, Chelsea’s new manager, claims his ambitious rebuild of the club is progressing faster than anticipated, just two months into his tenure. Hired in July from Leicester City to replace Mauricio Pochettino, Maresca inherited a club in disarray following a series of managerial changes under co-owner Todd Boehly. Since Boehly’s acquisition of the club in 2022, Chelsea has gone through three managers: Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, and most recently Pochettino, who was dismissed after only one season.
Despite Boehly’s substantial investment exceeding £1 billion ($1.3 billion) on new signings during his ownership, Chelsea’s performances have not met expectations. Pochettino’s side finished sixth in the Premier League last season and lost the League Cup final to Liverpool, a disappointing return considering the heavy spending. Boehly’s relentless quest for success has now continued under Maresca, who previously led Leicester City to promotion from the Championship.
Maresca’s arrival has been marked by significant changes, including a fresh wave of high-profile signings such as Pedro Neto and Joao Felix. At the same time, he has made bold decisions, deeming established players like Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell surplus to requirements as he seeks to reshape the squad. His overhaul strategy aims to improve a team that has struggled to regain its former glory since winning the Champions League in 2021 under Tuchel.
Despite these challenges, Maresca is optimistic about Chelsea’s progress. “I’m very happy at the moment. It’s less than two months still. I’m very happy. In my expectation, we are ahead, so I am very happy about this,” Maresca said. His comments came after Chelsea’s narrow 2-1 defeat against Servette in the Europa Conference League second leg, though they advanced to the group stage on aggregate.
Maresca’s vision appears to be taking shape as Chelsea begin to show signs of cohesion and tactical discipline. “The good thing is we have just started, so we have many things that we need to improve, but we are in the right direction,” he added. The Italian manager is focused on building a foundation that can sustain long-term success, rather than seeking quick fixes.
A crucial part of Maresca’s plan revolves around England forward Cole Palmer. The 22-year-old, who scored an impressive 25 goals last season following his move from Manchester City, has rapidly become a key figure in Chelsea’s attack. Palmer’s excellent form earned him a spot in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024, where he made significant contributions as a substitute. Heading into Sunday’s Premier League match against Crystal Palace, Palmer is brimming with confidence after opening his account in last weekend’s 6-2 rout of Wolves.
Maresca has high hopes for Palmer, but emphasizes the need for the young forward to stay grounded amidst growing expectations. “I’ve been very impressed with Cole, even if I already know him very well. It’s never easy to repeat the same numbers as last year in terms of goals and assists,” Maresca noted. “But I think the most important thing for Cole is to enjoy football, to relax, don’t feel pressure on his shoulders. He has to enjoy every day, training and games, and then goals and assists, they’re going to come, for sure.”
Maresca’s calm yet assertive approach seems to be resonating with the squad, providing a sense of stability that Chelsea have sorely missed in recent seasons. As Chelsea continue their journey under Maresca’s leadership, fans will be eager to see if the club can re-establish itself as a dominant force in English football. For now, the early signs are promising, with Maresca’s rebuild already ahead of schedule.
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