Enzo Maresca is speaking in his first pre-match press conference ahead of a Premier League game this season, and as you’d expect there was a lot to catch up on.
Transfers dominated the conversation, as ever, and Maresca was asked about two in particular: Joao Felix and Victor Osimhen.
In well practiced, time honoured managerial style he insisted that he wouldn’t speak about players who played for other teams: “they are not our players, it is not right to talk about those players,” the former Leicester coach said.
But he didn’t deny that he wanted players – quite the opposite in fact. He went on to admit that he had thoughts about who the club should sign, and even revealed he had communicated to the club his thoughts on what still needed to be added to his group of 45 or so options:
“The club knows exactly what I think in case we need to do something. In the end of the transfer window, we can bring some players.”
Maresca ready to make his move
We’re sure Maresca will have had some decent input, and that will only increase as he gets to know the options available to him better. He’s had just a handful of sessions with some players, and will need until January to really know what he’s got on his hands.
But on the other hand he’s been in place for a month, and as the coach himself said later in the conference, he had already analysed the squad in detail before taking over. So in some ways, his influence may already be being felt. It sounds like he’s still got his eyes on more changes however. Right now the priority is moving on players he doesn’t want, but it sounds ominously like he’s got ideas for a few more coming in.