LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Chelsea’s new Italian head coach, Enzo Maresca, has expressed confidence that his restructuring efforts at the tumultuous Premier League club are progressing faster than anticipated. Maresca, who was appointed in July to take over from Mauricio Pochettino, believes the improvements under his management are already evident.
Pochettino’s departure after just one season at Stamford Bridge added to a series of managerial changes initiated by co-owner Todd Boehly, who previously dismissed Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter following his acquisition of the club in 2022. Boehly has invested over £1 billion ($1.3 billion) in new signings, yet the returns on this significant expenditure have been minimal.
Continuing the trend, Maresca, who led Leicester to promotion from the Championship last season, has also been active in the transfer market. Notable acquisitions include Pedro Neto and Joao Felix, while several high-profile players such as Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell have been shown the exit as part of Maresca’s strategic overhaul. The adjustments aim to resolve the team’s underperformance, highlighted by a sixth-place finish in the Premier League and a League Cup final loss to Liverpool under Pochettino’s leadership.
Despite these challenges, Maresca is optimistic. Chelsea recently progressed to the Europa Conference League group stage despite suffering a 2-1 defeat in the second leg against Servette. Reflecting on the club’s progress, Maresca said, “I’m very happy at the moment. It’s less than two months still. I’m very happy. In my expectation we are ahead, so I am very happy about this. And the good thing is we have just started, so we have many things that we need to improve, but we are in the right direction.”
A key element in Chelsea’s aspirations for a top-four finish is England forward Cole Palmer. The 22-year-old had an impressive season last year, netting 25 goals following his unexpected transfer from Manchester City. His performances earned him a spot in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024, where he further bolstered his reputation with strong substitute appearances.
As Chelsea prepares for their Premier League match against Crystal Palace, Palmer’s confidence is high after scoring in last weekend’s 6-2 victory over Wolves. Maresca sees immense potential in Palmer, cautioning against undue pressure. “I’ve been very impressed with Cole, even if I already know him very well. It’s never easy to repeat the same numbers as last year in terms of goals and assists,” he noted. “But I think the most important thing for Cole is to enjoy football, to relax, don’t feel pressure on his shoulders. He has to enjoy every day, training and games, and then goals and assists, they’re going to come, for sure.”
Maresca’s tenure at Chelsea is off to a promising start, but the season ahead will be critical in determining whether the club can finally translate their substantial financial investments into sustained success on the pitch.
