Leicester City’s Kasey McAteer has suggested that there’s a young player at Chelsea that could thrive under the incoming manager Enzo Maresca.
It’s now been confirmed by Chelsea that Enzo Maresca will take charge as the club’s new head coach for next season, signing a five-year deal in the process.
The 44-year-old led Leicester to promotion as Championship winners last season. It was done playing with a clear possession-based style of football, too.
Now, Maresca has left Leicester after only a year in charge to take on the high-pressured role in the Stamford Bridge dugout.
It does feel like Chelsea have taken a slight gamble on an individual who’s only managed 67 games as a first-team boss (53 Leicester, 14 Parma).
Kasey McAteer predicts Chelsea player to suit Enzo Maresca
Leicester attacker Kasey McAteer, 22, has just worked for a year under Maresca, scoring seven goals in 26 matches across all competitions last season.
During an interview with Alex Goldberg via Playback, Foxes star McAteer suggested that Chelsea’s Carney Chukwuemeka could be a big winner from the managerial change at the Bridge.
When it was suggested that Chukwuemeka could thrive under Maresca, McAteer responded: “Yeah, for sure. The pocket role in the 8 role, Carney’s got a great build, he’s a great athlete, great player.
“I feel like if he does get the chance under Enzo he will flourish.
“Maybe I’m a bit bias because he’s one of my mates, but hope to see him have a good season in the next coming season. I’m sure if he gets the chance he’ll deliver on the pitch. I’ve got my fingers crossed for Carney.”
Could Carney Chukwuemeka replicate Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall?
Leicester’s talisman last season under Maresca was regularly Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, the box-to-box midfielder that lit up the Championship. He actually finished the campaign with 12 goals and 14 assists in the league, thriving in a No 8 position.
The Chelsea Chronicle could definitely picture Chukwuemeka succeeding in that exact role for Maresca’s Chelsea.
Chukwuemeka, who’s still only 20, is a goalscoring midfielder that has the ability and athleticism to excel as a No 8.
The £20m youngster (Sky Sports) had last season wrecked by injury, playing only 12 times.
However, the English playmaker has definitely shown glimpses to suggest he can offer a lot to Chelsea’s first-team squad.
It’ll now be on him to use pre-season to impress Maresca!