Despite picking up a win against West Ham United on Monday, February 3, Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea produced yet another poor display of football.
Maresca might have nailed it at the start of his tenure, however, the second half of the season has raised growing concerns for the Blues.
What’s even more troubling is how his first season at Chelsea is starting to mirror his debut campaign at Leicester City in 2023/24.
Maresca’s Time with the Foxes
Enzo Maresca was appointed to lead Leicester City back into the Premier League after their relegation in the 2022/23 season.
The 2023/24 campaign marked his debut as a first-team manager, following his roles as assistant manager at West Ham and Manchester City, and as coach of Manchester City’s U23 team.
Maresca made an immediate impact, guiding Leicester to 20 wins in their first 25 games between August and December.
However, the second half of the season proved more challenging, with the Foxes securing 12 wins and suffering 8 losses in their final 21 matches.
This downturn transformed what seemed like a straightforward return to the Premier League into a competitive race involving four teams.
By the end of March, Leicester temporarily dropped out of the top two positions.
The strong start had provided a comfortable cushion though, enabling Leicester to stay close to the top.
Ultimately, Leicester regained their footing and secured promotion, finishing as champions.
Key Players Who Defined Leicester’s Season
While Maresca’s tactical system was crucial, several standout players were instrumental in Leicester’s success.
The heartbeat of Leicester’s midfield, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – now a Chelsea player – thrived in an advanced number 8 role, bridging midfield and attack.
Stephi Mavididi and Veteran striker Jamie Vardy were the top scorers just ahead of KDH.
Portuguese full-back Ricardo Pereira adapted well to Maresca’s tactical demands, often inverting into midfield to help with ball progression.
A crucial figure in controlling possession, Harry Winks anchored the midfield and dictated play with his passing range.
Tactical Approach and Adjustments
Maresca’s system relied on a fluid 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation, which morphed into a 3-2-4-1 in possession.
The team built up play patiently from the back, with Pereira often moving into midfield to create a double pivot with Winks. This allowed Leicester to dominate possession and press high up the pitch.
However, the team’s mid-season struggles coincided with opponents adapting to their play style.
As teams became more compact defensively and exploited Leicester’s vulnerabilities in transitions, Maresca was forced to tweak his tactics.
The pressing structure shifted, and Dewsbury-Hall was positioned slightly deeper at times, which reduced Leicester’s attacking fluidity.
Ultimately, despite their mid-season stumbles, Leicester’s early dominance and key contributions from players like Dewsbury-Hall, Mavididi, and Vardy ensured their return to the Premier League.
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Maresca Becomes a Blue
Following Mauricio Pochettino’s departure from Chelsea at the end of a long and difficult 2023/24 season, Maresca was given the daunting task of coaching the Blues.
Maresca brought with him a tactical approach reminiscent of his tenure at Leicester City, emphasizing possession-based play and fluid positional rotations.
Tactical Setup and Key Players
Maresca typically deploys a 4-2-3-1 formation that transitions into a 3-2-4-1 during the attacking phases.
Marc Cucurella has often assumed the inverted full-back role under Maresca, moving from his left-back position into the Chelsea midfield.
In midfield, Enzo Fernández operates as the advanced number 8, orchestrating play and linking the midfield with the attack.
Alongside him, Moisés Caicedo has been influential as the deeper-lying midfielder, providing defensive cover and facilitating transitions by winning duels.
Challenges and Recent Developments
Despite a promising start, Chelsea have encountered challenges.
The team’s defensive vulnerabilities have been exposed, with Robert Sánchez facing criticism for errors leading to goals.
In the recent match against West Ham United, Maresca opted to start Filip Jorgensen in goal, relegating Sánchez to the bench, which suggests a potential shift in the goalkeeping position due to Sánchez’s inconsistent performances.
While Chelsea’s defence – goalkeeper included – has been a weakness all season, the issue has been magnified by the recent dip in attacking form.
Initially, Maresca’s in-game management was applauded, with substitutions often positively influencing matches.
However, since mid-December, the Italian’s in-game management has been poor.
The team’s attacking options have also underperformed, with wingers failing to make significant impacts and striker Nicolas Jackson struggling with finishing.
In the recent match against West Ham United, Chelsea’s performance was subpar, with the team conceding early due to a defensive error by Levi Colwill.
Although substitutions, including the introduction of Pedro Neto, eventually turned the game around, the overall display was concerning.
In the London Derby, an odd tactical decision saw Cole Palmer playing deeper than Fernández.
Palmer, more accustomed to playing as a No. 10 or on the right wing, was pushed further back – and towards the left – limiting his attacking influence.
Meanwhile, the Argentine was positioned higher up the pitch, often taking on more of the advanced No. 8 role, which disrupted the balance and fluidity Chelsea had shown earlier in the season.
As the season progresses and Chelsea aim for UEFA Champions League football, it will be crucial for Maresca to refine his strategies with the players at his disposal, especially since the club did not strengthen their weakest positions in the now-passed January window.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / News Images
Recording Date: 25.01.2025