One of our major concerns when Chelsea decided to get rid of Mauricio Pochettino and replace him with Enzo Maresca was the squad.
While it hadn’t been built specifically for Pochettino, it did suit his style of football. Some intense runners in midfield, dangerous direct wingers who take on their man, solid defenders and pacy full backs who can overlap.
It’s quite the opposite of what Maresca’s “tiki taka” demands. Can you really see Mykhailo Mudryk, Conor Gallagher, Noni Madueke or Axel Disasi in a Pep Guardiola style team? We certainly can’t. Choosing a manager who fits the players available should surely have been a priority. The fact we’re scrambling to sign a goalkeeper who can play with the ball at his feet is an admission there are problems.
Defiant Tosin denies issues
Well, one player at least is very confident that won’t be an issue. Tosin Adarabioyo only arrived this summer, but he’s worked with Maresca before at Man City, and is certain that the group at Stamford Bridge are well suited to the intense possession game that the Italian wants to implement:
“Definitely. It suits every player here really. We’re all very talented footballers and we’re looking forward to playing the style,” Adarabioyo said in quotes picked up by Football.London.
“From day one, he’s been implementing his style of play and we’re all buying into it. It’s a lot of football. We’re enjoying it. Wait and see [what we can expect from a Maresca Chelsea]. I’ll say wait and see. We’ll show a glimpse of that in pre-season, but come the first game of the season, you’ll definitely see the style.”
Well, it’s comforting to hear him say that – but he’s not going to say the opposite, is he? The proof will be in the pudding once the season starts.