Chelsea’s players will be reporting to a new manager this summer when pre-season begins.
Enzo Maresca, 44, has now been confirmed as Chelsea’s next head coach on a five-year deal.
The Italian has left his position as Leicester City boss after being offered the Chelsea job, which officially starts for him on 1 July.
What Enzo Maresca has told those closest to him
The Evening Standard has claimed that Maresca has told those close to him that he’s so excited and wishes that pre-season was starting straight away.
It is explained that the incoming coach has already started prepping for his new role and can’t wait to show the players how he plans to get the best from them.
The report adds that Maresca has told Chelsea he’s happy with the make-up of the squad. He’s now eager to start cracking on with work.
Despite a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League last season, Chelsea do own a very talented young group that should in theory improve year on year.
If Maresca can imprint his possession-based blueprint on the squad and everything clicks into gear, perhaps the 2024/25 could turn out to be a progressive one.
It’s no surprise that Chelsea’s next manager is itching for pre-season to start because he’s got a clear method to coach.
Chelsea players must be ready for possession
FBREF data records Chelsea did have 58.6% possession last season, which was the fifth most in the Premier League.
As for Leicester under Maresca last season, FBREF data claims that the Foxes had the second most possession in the Championship with an eye-catching 61.6% of the ball.
It’s well documented that the newly-appointed Chelsea boss is a student of Pep Guardiola’s philosophy after previously working as his assistant at Manchester City.
Thankfully, the Blues do have enough technical players in the squad that this transition into Maresca’s way of thinking should be a smooth one.