Enzo Maresca is not full of charm and quips like some previous Chelsea managers, nor does he have a soft-hearted twinkle in the eye like others. But he’s got a real steely determination and single mindedness about him that we really respect.
That was never more evident than yesterday in the press conference, where he was asked about the arrival of two attacking players who joined Chelsea late in the window.
Both Joao Felix and Jadon Sancho have had their time in the sun as a wonderkid, but seen their career go off track pretty severely. There’s a similar sense with both of them, that they’re wonderfully talented, but lacking the drive and determination to ever play up to that potential.
Maresca lays down the law to talented additions
Yesterday, Maresca explained that he had made it very clear to them before they joined that things were going to have to change if they wanted to get a chance in his team. Both players effectively fell out with their former clubs and former managers, and the Italian coach made sure to lay down the law before the new signings had made their mind up about what to do:
“Listen, we have Jadon, Joao, these kinds of players. Before they joined the club, I had a chat with them, and one of my messages to them was ‘if you come here and don’t work properly then you are not going to play’.
“Before they arrived, the message for them was clear. For Jadon. For Joao. But [I told them] the reason why I’m speaking to you is because I really like you. If you come here in the way that we want, we are happy. But if you come here and don’t work hard, it’s better if you don’t come.”
Asked how Sancho had responded to his challenge, Maresca pointed out “he’s here.”