Incoming Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca did something with Leicester City’s players at the start of their time together that really surprised the squad.
Enzo Maresca, 44, is tipped in the media to walk away from Leicester and become Chelsea’s new head coach.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano reported via X on Tuesday that Maresca has now agreed to become Blues manager on an initial five-year deal.
Chelsea fans are still patiently waiting for an official announcement from the club, but all the signs are that they’ve selected Mauricio Pochettino’s replacement.
Leicester manager Maresca has just led the Foxes to promotion and the Championship league title during his first year at the King Power Stadium. He’s done it with a clear possession-based brand of football, too.
How Enzo Maresca surprised Leicester players
The Telegraph claims that Maresca is a coach who’s obsessed with small details when it comes to tactics and implementing his football.
It is explained that players in the Leicester squad were ‘surprised’ when they first started working with the manager last summer.
The report says that the players were surprised that Maresca insisted very early on that every pass has to be made to the correct foot.
It’s a Foxes squad filled with so many individuals that have played in the Premier League before, so experiencing a new level of detail from a young and fairly inexperienced coach is intriguing.
Chelsea’s squad should be excited about what lies ahead under Maresca, who’s a student and former assistant of Pep Guardiola.
Chelsea have the technicians to thrive
The Chelsea Chronicle would argue the midfield department is there and ready to thrive from day one under Maresca’s guidance.
For Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia and Enzo Fernandez, they’re ball-playing central midfielders that could have real fun in a new system next season. The same goes for attacking midfielders such as Carney Chukwuemeka and Cole Palmer, too.
Of course, this is a leap for Maresca and a risk from Chelsea. It could be really exciting if it comes together, though.