It’s been a great start to the season for Enzo Maresca, and he’s just won the Premier League’s manager of the month award for September to cap it all off.
The Italian coach beat off strong competition by drawing one and winning 3 in a month which catapulted his team into the top 4 race. After a draw in the first game of the month at Crystal Palace there were some fears, and a late win against Bournemouth in the subsequent game didn’t help. But that victory proved a strong catalyst, and we went on to demolish West Ham and Brighton with a hatful of goals scored.
There were major question marks about his appointment in the summer, but a strong start to life in the Premier League for the former Leicester coach has led to a well deserved award.
His task as new Chelsea boss was made even harder by the fact that he was replacing Mauricio Pochettino, who was increasingly popular with players and fans and had finished last season strongly.
But instead of wilting under that pressure, Maresca has managed to take the momentum and progress that was growing under his predecessor and continued to build on it right from the off this year.
Chelsea now prepare for tricky phase 2 of season
As we’ve pointed out a few times, things turn really nasty later this month and as we get closed towards Christmas in the league. Coming off this international break we face Liverpool at Anfield, then Newcastle, then an U, then Arsenal, then Maresca’s former team Leicester.
If Maresca can guide us through those game with the same sort of record we had in our last month, he might be on course for manager of the season