A Leicester City midfielder is convinced a £20m Chelsea player will flourish under Enzo Maresca.
The West Londoners announced the appointment of Maresca on Monday and fans are beginning to warm to their new man.
It came as quite the shock when Mauricio Pochettino was dismissed, having ended the season in such fine form.
But ultimately, Todd Boehly took the decision to bring in a younger coach with a similar philosophy to Pep Guardiola.
That said, a Leicester player believes his arrival will massively benefit one Chelsea player.
Kasey McAteer says Carney Chukwuemeka will ‘flourish’ under Enzo Maresca
Speaking on Alex Goldberg’s show, Leicester midfielder Kasey McAteer said Carney Chukwuemeka will ‘flourish’ under Maresca if he’s given the opportunity.
“In one of the pocket roles, the eight roles, Carney (Chukwuemeka) has a great build, he’s a great athlete, a great player,” the 22-year-old said.
“I feel like if he does get the chance under Enzo (Maresca), he will flourish.
McAteer continued: “I’m sure if he gets the chance, he’ll deliver on the pitch so I’ve got my fingers crossed for Carney for sure.”
Carney Chukwuemeka’s physicality will be important
Maresca is big on having at least one physical presence in midfield and made that clear throughout last season.
When Wilfred Ndidi and Cesare Casadei were both unavailable, the Italian head coach noted that he had to adapt.
So, that said, it’s clear he’ll want to start a player with excellent physical attributes to partner Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, so Chukwuemeka could get his chance.
The 6ft 2 number eight has a big frame but it is also supremely proficient at breaking lines and occupying space in the pockets – a trait Maresca is big on.
So as McAteer alluded to, the arrival of Maresca could greatly benefit Chukwuemeka.