Enzo Maresca has emerged as Chelsea’s top target as they search for their next manager, with the Italian now receiving a glowing recommendation ranking him ahead of Mauricio Pochettino
Chelsea have been given a glowing recommendation of Enzo Maresca as they close in on making the Italian their next manager.
Maresca led Leicester City to the Championship title in the season just gone, having previously worked as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City. His work at the King Power has drawn the attention of Chelsea.
The Blues are searching for a new boss after agreeing to part company with Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentine had led them to a top six finish and a place in the Carabao Cup final, but Chelsea chiefs have opted to move in a new direction.
Maresca has quickly emerged as their top target and his candidacy has been backed by Leicester star Harry Winks. The midfielder played under Pochettino and iconic Blues boss Jose Mourinho at Tottenham.
Winks joined Leicester ahead of their march to the second-tier title and has clearly been left impressed by Maresca. The 28-year-old has now hailed the Italian as being the best manager he has worked under.
“He’s by far the best manager I’ve worked for,” Winks told Sky Sports. “He’s incredible. Everybody will say he’s going right to the top in terms of managerial stature. He’s got everything.
“He’s a great man manager. He’s tactically incredible in some of the decisions that he tells us to do before the game and how he views the match is something I’ve never experienced before in football.
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“So yeah, he’s opened my eyes a lot to football and the way it’s played and the kind of Pep Guardiola style as well – who I know he worked with for a while as well.
“So I’m loving my football, it works perfectly for me. It’s exactly the kind of football that I want to play and buy into and I think since he has come in, I’ve learned so much and continue to do that.”
It will take a fee of around £10million for Leicester to agree to allow Maresca to move to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea vice-captain Ben Chilwell admitted this weekend that it was a surprise to see Pochettino depart.
“Yeah, you know it was a surprise. I think with the end of the season and how well the team did it was definitely a surprise, but you know, good luck to him wherever he goes moving forward,” he told Sky Sports.
“And we have got to look forward now as a club. I am not going to look into the speculation of who might come in but whoever does come in I’m sure it will go well and we can push on next season.”
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