One of Enzo Maresca’s biggest tasks as Chelsea’s new head coach will be to lift the mood in the dressing room and win over a section of senior players left questioning the club’s direction after the departure of Mauricio Pochettino.
Chelsea are expected to announce the appointment of Maresca early this week and are confident he will thrive in their structure. It is a sign of their belief in the Italian and their determination to back him that they have given the 44-year-old a five-year deal, with the option of an extra year.
But Maresca, who has left Leicester City after overseeing their promotion to the Premier League, is short of experience at the highest level and he will need to work quickly to earn the trust of his squad. The majority of Chelsea’s players liked Pochettino and remain unhappy that the Argentinian was allowed to leave by mutual consent last month.
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Chelsea appeared to be heading in the right direction under Pochettino, who earned a spot in the Conference League after finishing sixth. The team’s form improved towards the end of the campaign and the Argentinian inspired excellent performances from players such as Cole Palmer, Moisés Caicedo, Trevoh Chalobah, Malo Gusto and Conor Gallagher. Palmer, who excelled under Pochettino after joining from Manchester City, was voted the Premier League’s young player of the season.
Many players were shocked when Pochettino departed and it is understood that some have grown unsettled because of the constant upheaval. Chelsea’s owners, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, have been through five permanent and interim managers since buying the club two years ago.
The owners remain convinced that Pochettino was not suited to functioning in Chelsea’s collaborative structure and coordinating productively with the sporting directors, Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley. They believe that Maresca is a better fit and feel his focus on possession football will suit their array of technically gifted players.
A positive for Maresca is that he already knows Palmer and Roméo Lavia after coaching them at City. Maresca worked in City’s academy before joining Pep Guardiola’s backroom team. He is a highly respected coach and his tactical acumen has impressed at his previous clubs.
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In an extra boost for Maresca, Chelsea will increase their number of former City academy players when they complete the signing of the former Fulham centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer. He is heading to Stamford Bridge after rejecting interest from Newcastle.