This preseason has had too many games for Enzo Maresca’s liking – he’s simply not had the time he wants on the training pitch to get his ideas across.
The upside of that is that he’s had tons of match minutes to try out different combinations and different setups on the pitch. We’ve seen all manner of Blues used out of position, in a number of formations.
The manager addressed this in his press conference ahead of the game against Real Madrid, when asked about his use of the team’s wingers and where he saw them all fitting in.
“For a moment of the season, all of them can play in different positions. The other day, Misha [Mudryk] played on the right, just to see something,” Maresca explained.
“That can happen. I know Misha is better on the left side than the right side. Nicolas is a number nine but if we need him out on the wing, he will be a winger.”
It’s a really interesting idea, especially when combined with today’s news that Chelsea will be signing Samu Omorodion from Atletico Madrid for £35m.
Chelsea’s winger shuffle could produce interesting results
As it stands, most Chelsea fans are sick of Raheem Sterling and Mykhailo Mudryk on the left wing. And Jackson also really impressed on the occasions where Mauricio Pochettino used him out wide last season.
Moving him there not only gets Sterling and Mudryk out of the picture, and puts Jackson somewhere we’ve seen him play well, it also then frees up the striker slot for Omorodion, or for someone like Cole Palmer or Christopher Nkunku to fit in as a false 9.
These are all things we expect to see Maresca try at some point – especially now he’s spoken openly about it.
