International breaks provide players with a unique opportunity to speak to the media in their home country, which often sees them open up a little more and speak more freely.
That’s just what’s happened with Cesare Casadei, who is so out of the picture at Chelsea in terms of media and interviews that he might as well not exist. We had barely heard from him all season, and you’d have been forgiven for thinking he’d secured a deadline day move away had he not started making appearances two weeks ago when we played Barrow in the EFL Cup.
Today he spoke to Tuttosport in quotes translated by Football Italia, and the midfielder looked back over his last year, full of ups and downs.
“It was pretty hard under Pochettino because I only made a few appearances as a substitute. 11 games, but only 71 minutes on the pitch. I wasn’t too happy. Everyone would like to play more,” Casadei admitted of last season.
Midfielder starting to earn his minutes
But despite that bad experience, the former Inter Milan academy product decided to stay put and fight for his place in the first team this year under Enzo Maresca, who had been his coach for a period last season at Leicester:
“After talking to the coach, I was 100% sure that staying was the best decision,” the midfielder assured the interviewer.
“Maresca told me what he thinks, and I had no doubts. I remained here without even considering potential loan deals. I don’t even think about the winter transfer window. I couldn’t be more proud to play for Chelsea, and the competition is one of the reasons why I decided to stay.”
We love that attitude, and after a slow start, it does seem like it might work out for him. Maresca has used him twice in a row in the B team, and that side will get plenty of action across the cups this year.