It was announced today that newly appointed Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca will be taking his first press conference as boss tomorrow, ahead of the first friendly of preseason against Wrexham on Wednesday night.
We haven’t heard much from Maresca at all since he was appointed – just a brief and very general introductory video with very soft questions from Chelsea TV. This will be his first test in front of the media in general, and there are a few areas we’re sure he will be tested.
USA-bound for Chelsea tour 🇺🇸 Enzo Maresca’s first press conference scheduled for tomorrow in Santa Clara
— Kieran Gill (@kierangill_DM) July 22, 2024
What Maresca will be quizzed on
Here are three topics we think that the new coach is likely to have to deal with in his first press conference:
The goalkeeper situation:
Chelsea have a few goalkeepers on their books, but none have really convinced. Who will be Maresca’s number one to start the season? Will the club be looking to sign any new players in that position? Are the links to Mads Hermansen, Maresca’s keeper from last season at Leicester, valid?
The loan situation:
We’re hurtling towards August, yet very few sales or loans have been agreed. Caleb Wiley signed today, adding another name to the list of players trying to squeeze into a limited number of foreign loan slots. Who is going where, and who is staying with the first team?
The Enzo situation:
This is the first real controversy of Maresca’s time at the club, and it’s a really sticky one. A £100m player filmed himself signing racist songs, and his teammates reacted negatively in public. Enzo is still on holiday, but when he’s back it’s going to be one hell of a bumpy ride reintegrating him. Maresca will be asked for his thoughts on the song, what punishment Enzo will get, and how he plans to repair the damage done to dressing room morale.