Enzo Maresca denies he’s changed key players position – but new signings could change that

Cole Palmer had a good game against Benfica in the second round of the Club World Cup, playing more to the left than the right hand side in a reverse of what we usually see.

In his press conference this morning, Enzo Maresca was asked about that experiment, and actually played down how major it was.

Maresca on Cole Palmer changing sides of the pocket

“Yeah, Cole can play on both sides,” the coach responded when asked about the decision:

“He was playing against Benfica in the left pocket. He used to play in the right pocket. He just changed right and left. But during the season he played already different games in the left pocket. I remember the game at home against Newcastle, I think. He played in the left pocket against Benfica. He started a little bit more wide than to come inside in the pocket. But Cole’s position was exactly the same position that he’s playing all season. The only difference that he was in the left side than the right side.”

Palmer’s position change and long term selection questions with new signings

That’s rather interesting as it contradicts what Maresca was saying after the defeat against Flamengo in the group stage – that the loss had been down to his “experimenting.” We pointed out at the time that it was more just some minor tweaks, and it seems that the manager has come round to that way of thinking.

Tactically, having him in the right or left pocket doesn’t make that much difference. But we do wonder how the return of Nicolas Jackson affects things tonight, and especially later once Joao Pedro is fit to start too. Perhaps the real experimenting is yet to begin?