Why Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea Should Be Feared

As one of Pep's many disciples - Enzo Maresca has joined Chelsea with a weight of expectation hanging over his head after successive poor seasons. Adam Clery discusses how he'll set up...
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t.co/Yn3AQUt7b6

[@whitecoal8134]

So with the keeper pushing up into the back line Todd Boehly finally got that 443 formation he wanted all along

[@JarelDavid-f5d]

😂😂😂

[@rampanswallo]

😂😂😂 this is a good one

[@nahtemerc]

Hilarious how that worked out. 🤣

[@spectaxxx]

Comment of the year

[@kolloh]

goated comment🤣🤣

[@nayeemimani2451]

As a chelsea fan I don’t want to get my hopes up , it’s always the hope that kills you

[@JarelDavid-f5d]

Na he’s a great manager I can tell you

[@arfenmalik1717]

​@@JarelDavid-f5d Maresca is great but the problem is why does he keep starting the same players that pochettino favoured. We saw how bad the team was last season but pochettino stuck to his favourite players. Maresca has to bench them or loan them out or else it will be a repeat of last season

[@BlueComps_24]

bruh if you don't have any hopes up why do you even watch football

[@pK-kw1zt]

He will turn out like arteta 😂 FA cup and community shield manager

[@christianjohnrojo7966]

I know what you mean. Poch sold us the world last season too

[@tysonngubeni8545]

You said similar things about Poch. You can’t fool me. I am familiar with your game 😅

[@RaftEditz]

And poch didnt do a bad job at Chelsea, we got top 6 and the only reason he left was because of boehly

[@jjtheblue11]

@@RaftEditz Tell me you have no idea what you are talking about without telling me you have no idea what you are talking about. Boehly has nothing to do with the day to day running of the club these days. It was Behdad Egbhali and the sporting directors in the meeting with Poch

[@kobehans7376]

​@@RaftEditzPoch was no good. COle Palmer saved him

[@Fernandez2023E]

Exactly 😂😂😂

[@meentage]

​@RaftEditz he left on mutual consent nothing to do with boehly mate

[@83ayodele]

As a Chelsea supporter, I’ll believe it when I see it.

[@pipster1891]

What experts never seem to understand is that plans don't always work.

[@bensmith5288]

Where you from?

[@dedeseth9976]

hope you do now after today's game vs wolves 😂

[@siyabongandlovu]

Are you not entertained

[@tonyd4433]

How's that belief going?

[@420_Emissary]

That's the second season now Adam's sticking his neck out for us, gotta love the man! I too hope we do well. We have gems in Nkunku, Palmer and Carney. Jackson has everything we want in a striker, just needs consistency. Caicedo will be even better. Lavia is coming back, a fit again James, a newly Euro-crowned version of Cucurella, Noni stepping up etc. We have a decent team at our disposal just need to harness the talent.

[@pipster1891]

"Jackson has everything we want in a striker"...except how to finish.

[@mitcho8649]

The biggest part of Leicester analysis you seem to have missed is they were HUGELY the best team in the league which was nowt to do with Maresca. Team with best players plays well shock.

[@InvaderZim742]

Is that why they were only the 3rd most valuable squad in the championship last season?

[@michaelb1348]

actually everyone was saying that he had a shite team when he joined.

[@gm006b4]

Well done Alan, very good 😄👍

[@willja4297]

enzo more suited to deep role, with caicedo bombing on and counter pressing

[@Erik291098]

Caicedo starting high allows him to drop deep to create space for Palmer, and then inverted James can overlap Palmer and deliver crosses.

[@GD_14-10]

Him liking caicedo to winks kinda put me off really😂

[@Nix-nb3zn]

Enzo only played as an 8 this pre season

[@willja4297]

@@Nix-nb3zn 30 minute sample size while playing alongside lavia or ugochukwu

[@mthobisingubo6990]

That's where Gallagher with him Chelsea is beast of a team

[@jacefitzgibbonTIMB]

Whoa. Adam crossing with my love for chelsea is crazy. Glad hes doing well!

[@chuwanggyang4061]

This video aged well. You were spot on. You are a tactical prophet.

[@nameanteater4772]

Disappointed that you failed to say “Let’s Chel-see” rather than “Let’s Chelsea F- see”

[@edumarr]

How isn’t Nkunku in you starting 11?

[@Erik291098]

He'll probably be involved in 50+ games next season starting in various positions, but also being a substitute. He might start at LW if Mudryk and Sterling doesn't impress. Selling Gallagher would also give him some playing time in central midfield.

[@GD_14-10]

@@Erik291098blud Nkunku is an outright starter 😂😂

[@confliqted]

@@Erik291098i think ur forgetting that nkunku is a world class footballer, just because he had one season of injury it doesnt mean that u can take that away from him

[@Justfranktalking]

Nkunku is starting for us

[@richardtrueman9093]

Nkunku has had a brilliant preseason

[@ЕвКа-п9п]

Sarri, Potter, Pochettino were promising too

[@mynqmeis123]

Ik it's just club america but when his system was working they looked unstoppable. Keeping reece as the 3rd cb and having gusto be the inverted full back made all the difference in the world

[@footballfan5048]

Tbf Reece as right back looks like a waste of his offensive talent unless Maresca got a plan to use him on the attacking phase more that's not yet implemented or drilled into them. But if his contribution on the 3 pre-season games will be his role on this system then it would be better to sell Reece with top price and buy another more suited player.

[@TT_2clean]

​@@footballfan5048 Wtf u on abt?

[@WarriorKM35]

@@footballfan5048Nah Reece inverted will be a crazy player over time but for now get him forward whenever we can

[@footballfan5048]

@@WarriorKM35 Can't see how that will be the case. He doesn't have the technique to play progressive pass under pressure nor a left foot to open up passing angle from the middle. Look at Gusto, first time he is used as the inverted role and he showed what he can do. Shown that he is just the right profile for the inverted role. Reece is not.

[@curtarnolds]

Reece is one of the best RWB in the world. Not midfielder, not defender

[@archiebuchan2563]

On Enzo, he’s a bit of a strange one when you map Leicester’s tactics on to Chelsea absolutely but I think he also makes up for a few of the areas where other players in the Chelsea squad don’t fit the tactics. I imagine he’ll be played in a deeper role as a more traditional pivot alongside Caicedo and that gives a few Chelsea players a bit more freedom to do what they naturally want to do. One solution I like is having Cucurella push into the central spot a bit earlier and having Enzo push up from LCM during build up to places where he can pull the strings more, then have Mudryk come in deeper from the LW to collect and run at opposition in more space like he used to have so much success doing. Another solution would be to have Enzo and Caicedo stick as a double pivot more often and have James overlap with Palmer instead of Invert, giving Palmer a ton more freedom to attack space and get away from the touchline and James in the RWB positions that he loves. Another may be to just have Enzo and Caicedo switch as 8 and CDM depending on the attacking move from Chelsea so you can sometimes have Enzo as a more deep line creator, sometimes as a more traditional KDB type.

[@djacks247]

Weird lineup but good analysis. Enzo is obviously the 6 since we learned late last season that caicedo is great as an 8. Your description of KDH role was a spot on description of Cole Palmer. You don’t need to force him into the starting lineup just because he’s new. Swap him out for nkunku or palmer

[@john-francisebunilo6356]

Wonderful analysis... I enjoy your analysis all the time

[@hiramcarrero8402]

Enzo F is the perfect harry winks type. He would be world class in that role

[@no1wasgeorgiebest]

You aren't serious

[@hiramcarrero8402]

@@no1wasgeorgiebest I am 100% serious. In his first six months here when he played under potter Enzo played at the base midfield and he looked awesome. If maresca can do the same for Enzo, it would be even better. he needs a lot of touches to make a lot of passes for him to be influential in the game and that’s exactly what Harry did last season for Leicester

[@duckway4733]

That's the role that he did so well in with Argentina. You'll see a massive improvement once he finds form in that position.

[@hiramcarrero8402]

@@duckway4733200000% plus you’ll have so much defensive cover that his lack of athleticism will not be a problem and he’ll be able to control the tempo of the game so much better

[@nickortiz215]

@@no1wasgeorgiebestyou clearly do not know a single thing about football

[@ademkilinc9462]

We've had these videos for a long time lets hope this one finally bangs

[@izanudin]

Interesting to who see gets in the side. Who hugs the touchline. What role does Palmer, when I think his ideal position is more central. Also, the box midfield doesn't look physically intimidating and can potentially get bullied around especially aerial-ly.

[@RasenRendanX]

already said Cole will play more central for sure.

[@aarondammi8822]

Reece James in Lazarus pit.. that hit😅😅

[@alexsmith2630]

Can’t help but think Chelsea had the perfect player for the KDH role in Mason Mount

[@tealsquare]

Absolutely not mate

[@kociananthonyfeveckjr.1282]

Gallagher > KDH

[@simplycvrsive]

Im not gonna lie, im also doing mental gymnastics on how to fit enzo in the starting 11 with this formation. Nkunku and cole as well as far as positions are concerned. . . Because, cole and nkunku out wide is a waste but positioning them infield would mean dropping enzo or nkunku but Jackson can rotate with nkunku in game between LW and CF. . . Its a lot.

[@akbartube88]

You mixed up Justin and Pererria at fullback. It was the RB that inverted

[@nigelee]

Much appreciation for the Lazarus Pit reference.

[@Ibrahim.21]

I don't know but it seems Most managers want to copy PEP. And I don't like it. Hope it works out as a Chelsea fan

[@LanguageCrab]

Looking forward to the Cork City FC video.

[@aftwelve]

Finally a positive Chelsea video. Thx for not hating us

[@elzoemalku4598]

A feel of fresh air

[@notreal1477]

Neutral media surrounding chelsea is rarer than goldust.

[@glowwurm9365]

Enzo is almost un-pressable on his day and his range of passing is better than Caciedo. Going to be interesting to see how he makes it work because we also have to slot in Lavia into that three. Feels to me like Caicedo with his ability to press would be better suited to the number 8 role, supporting Hall or Nkunku who would be naturally playing higher up the pitch. Obviously they've just bough in a GK so i assume Maresca is content with the purchase. We just need a proper CF now and i think this squad is good to go.

[@tswelopeleseleka9641]

a well pressing + aerial threat striker in Victor Osihmen myt help Chelsea break into that top 4 spot over Villa myb

[@Erik291098]

I think we will see a lot of rotations between Caicedo, Palmer and James. They will end up in quite different places from where they start in early build up.

[@pipster1891]

James will end up in the treatment room or suspended.

[@darriusdias]

An extract from the poem Solarljóð: I saw the sun true star of day drop to the dinning earth; elsewhere I heard the gates of hell groaning, heavy. I saw the sun scored with bloody signs as I was waning in this world fiercer she seemed in many ways than she had before.

[@no1wasgeorgiebest]

Much more sense than any other comment, or this video in general

[@veo1123]

Only thing I'm personally worried about is how he's gonna utilize Palmer. I feel like if he is forced to always be pushed out on the wing it could greatly reduce his impact in the game. Which is TERRIBLE since he's out best player.

[@RasenRendanX]

why would cole be pushed out to the wing? its already said that cole will play more centrally by the mgr. cole cant play on the wing in this system. he isnt a pure winger. noni is.

[@veo1123]

@@RasenRendanX Yeah but that’s what I’m worried about. In Enzo’s system all 3 of his midfielders have responsibility to track back & have high motors. I don’t think there’s really a CAM position in his system more like 1 cdm & 2 cm which I think will hinder Cole just a little. Only time will tell however.

[@GoodsonChiwedza]

Your videos are always satisfying to watch

[@Aman-ez6km]

Whoo you're right man city feared them 4-2 kind of fear😢.

[@benvictor6329]

It's pre season and he was testing different players so rest

[@JonnyHavens]

Given Lavia's preseason form, I'd be shocked if he doesn't start as the lone CDM. Hes been outstanding.

[@Ghfjgjggj123shdhfnfmdk]

Honestly I'm not afraid of Maresca ball because of his history in management. Enzo Maresca had a team full of Premier League footballers and a lot of his team were playing for their country (like Fae) or had been capped (like Vardy), yet he STILL managed to almost bottle a 17 point lead. It's not just that but even Leicester fans think he's shit. Very rarely do "Pep descibles" work, especially in the PL. Arteta has his own ideas and wasn't just a Pep descible he also worked under Arsene Wenger and David Moyes which you can see he's also adapted in his football. He's got different ideologies on the game as well to Guardiola. Kompany and Maresca are just Pep clones, they live and breathe him, they stick to that brand of football no matter what because they claim "It's just how we play" but it's actually because they don't actually know any other way of playing. That works at clubs like Bayern or PSG because the lack of competition but at Chelsea 🤢 Defensively Maresca is weak, his defensive record only came from having a back 4 who all play for their national side. He had a center back partnership who play for Belgium and Denmark ffs. All you have to do is say "go defend" and they'll be the best defense in the league. The best way to describe Maresca is just Pep Guardiola without brain cells

[@TChAriv1]

Leicester and chelsea are two different teams. And to say he is a pep disciple is lazy analysis and then say arteta had his own ideas and maresca doesn't yet they both use the box makes your comment rubbish

[@theredstonemechanic6838]

What a mad comment lmao, damned if u do because apparently he has the best team ever than can even perform without being coached, why are we acting like that Leicester team was any good before maresca came along, anyway 5 games in now, hope you’re seeing he’s not as rigid as u would’ve thought he was, clearly at Leicester he was simply limited by the talent available to him

[@chrisformosa7305]

Adam your videos always fill me with unbridled confidence so thank you, but the team always let me down

[@lewisblackwiththenicehair]

Adam Cleary could present the plot of Lost in a concise and easy to understand manner

[@bythecliff]

This time last year you were saying that Chelsea might win the league. Look how that turned out.

[@pipster1891]

I don't know how people who predict the future keep getting paid for it.

[@aperaiyevictory2762]

You don’t know how long I have waited for this particular video

[@umarmars47]

Our pre-season was disappointing though, I hope they'll get better when season starts

[@Mustang7520]

It just feels to similar to when we brought in Andre Villas-Boas. Young manager with an interesting ideology but who hasn’t proven himself at the top level yet. Let’s hope he doesn’t have a similar career to AVB.

[@OKEBEHENDRICKS]

Amazing halaand on your T-shirt is better problem to me as a Chelsea fan right now

[@420booth]

Most positive video about Chelsea I've seen all summer. Happy to go with the glass half full approach, til City knock it over on Sunday.

[@MauriceFidel]

I've waited for this forever😂😂

[@JordanDrury]

The thing that seems to let us down every season is finishing. For all the tactics and analysis, our players have the yips up front and waste chance after chance. Except Palmer obviously.

[@iandshaw]

In all those clips praising what Dewbury-Hall does, I'm sat there thinking, "that's exactly where Nkunku like to be". I suppose we have a lot of games to play, so KDH will be a useful rotation option.

[@petertyson4022]

Great explanation how this works. Like the the jokes as well 😊👍

[@GoodsonChiwedza]

Very satisfactory analysis

[@SrikkanthG]

100% I concur about rhe Enzo Fernandes role. He is not a No 8 and not a half space specialist. The only role is No 6, which is currently occupied by Lavia.

[@curtarnolds]

Lavia does it better

[@chikejunior1250]

@@curtarnoldsit’s just a sad fact. Lavia is much better. Enzo will be a problem for us this season.

[@notfunnyx2]

Finally someone that sees that Enzo Fernandez is not good enough.

[@kellycriterion1019]

Enzo Fernandez is very good enough. He is very good.

[@GOATBryan10]

Nice video mate but please setup the team with the right players in the right positions next time

[@3LevelsofLeadership]

Really insightful, thank you.

[@Joe_Wamambo]

top sense of humor

[@phattrick87]

FINALLY! 😂 Top shelf, as per usual 👌

[@johndeighan2495]

Some good football, some iffy results and lots of optimistic fans telling each other to "trust the process". That's what I expect from Maresca's first season.

[@RasenRendanX]

worked for arsenal didnt it?

[@johndeighan2495]

@@RasenRendanX yup, might work for chelsea too if he's given time.

[@sirkelvinkabwenonde9783]

Good analysis bro

[@gcleeter2261]

Do you think Osimhen first this system or do you think Chelsea are better with Jackson or Guiu?

[@greg2502]

I don't think we beed the expensive gamble that is Oshimen . He had a bad season last term at Napoli and did little in the African Cup. Go with Nico and Guii

[@dbricker123]

Hope you are right Adam. The match against Club América was an improvement, but the best Prem sides might destroy CFC until the system really takes hold. CFC have the players to make Enzo look like a genius.

[@alturabi_1]

Do you think it will work for palmer ? He looks solid in the middle. Madueke looks solid on the wing. Might be tough to see how he incorporates this

[@RasenRendanX]

how? it was already said that Cole will play more central. he won play ong the right wing cuz he isnt a pure winger

[@alturabi_1]

@@RasenRendanX have you watched the vid???

[@Wazowsky11]

Given the amusing amount of effects in the transformation of these videos, I guess this video is FourFourTwo's declaration of espionage, in the sense of the full covering of Adam Clery's expression from this thence published video.

[@53232adrian]

Kdh made that exact same pass to giui like he did to vardy during the preseason. He is the perfect signing for mareska ball.

[@yayabased]

Great video. Well done.

[@onii-chan2811]

Nice shirt. I love it.

[@obi-wankenobi5766]

“Don’t do that, don’t give me hope”

[@jsbach6529]

Biggest issue for me 3+ yrs running is the wretched, lugubrious build-up play with zero incisive movement and largely sideways passing (under Tuchel, Poch et. al.). The Atlanta friendly makes it clear this was, as I suspected, a coaching deficit and not an inherent player skill issue (how could it be?). Solving that alone will satisfy many a Chelsea fan even w/o immediate Champions League placing, and Maresca becomes an instant hero.

[@TheKatchutes]

Enzo in the winks role mate. Caicedo box to box in the right 8, Hall left 8, NkuNku left wing, Palmer right wing. 🙏 I pray this is what happens

[@florme6494]

Top quality. However, you can tell the upload is a little delayed.

[@nicholasboyd-gibbins9763]

Great as always!!

[@mosesprince7349]

En waiting for this.. keep it up bro

[@rezze]

Graham Potter season coming vibe.

[@commentarytalk1446]

What do you think of losing Gallagher? Feels like he was a solid work-horse in midfield for Chelsea. As for Chelsea, not sure if "Save A Donkey" ad is running to fit the algorithm of key words here... tbh they did seem to be gaining steam and momentum towards end of last season and have spent a lot of money and gone through a lot of managers.

[@himdailungpamei983]

I think Maresca's job will be less of a tactical problem to solve and more of a man management issue. We have plenty of good players but we can't play all of them, we have to enable our best players with other supporting players who have the necessary skillsets. Like Adam says, Caicedo needed another defensive partner to provide cover and fight for 2nd balls which Cucurella did. You might have a better midfield without Enzo, and playing Lavia more. But upper management will be pressuring Maresca to play their big money names ie., Sterling, Mudryk, Enzo, etc who might not be a good fit. The sqaud building has been confusing, but if they've decided on a specific direction, then they need to be bold and ship out the players who don't fit in. The SDs need to be bold and not fall for the sunk cost fallacy.

[@jamesnorman7231]

Brilliant video mate

[@edgarluisdiaz6965]

I really appreciate you trying to speak Spanish! Fue un buen intento!

[@cliveomahoney4096]

Can't wait for your C Palmer special edition.

[@jsn_alva]

Do you think it makes more sense for neto to play on the right and palmer on the left under Maresca? One thing that grinds my gears is when players lose their advantage over an opponent because they cut inside to their natural foot.

[@deepanmurugan467]

Enzo will be the deepest midfielder. Caicedo/Lavia will be the more adventurous dynamic CM that will venture further forward. KDH will be advanced 8. Nkunku LW. Palmer RW. Some games Palmer advanced 8 KDH drops out.

[@jonpaul3868]

Pep: ooohhh, I'm scared~~

[@novianovioTV]

You have that elephant well trained - walked the length of the pitch without knocking any players over. A Chelsea preview without mentioning the most watchable Chelsea player: Cole P You made Leicester last season look so good I’m re delighted as a Leeds fan we beat them twice. You also explained without mentioning us why Leicester went up and we didn’t: we had a lack of goals from midfield; and a goalie who Moresca would not have kept in the team

[@novianovioTV]

* Maresca

[@dalmar5567]

One of the best mangers out there

[@SpiritualLivingPlatform]

I cannot agree more with you. It's just a matter of time.

[@andrew_rubia]

Please no. Not another season of this. Not another season of Chelsea are actually good despite being awful in reality. 😢

[@GodknowsTendeukaiMbedzi]

You nailed it

[@zXHipoXz]

Ah shit here we go again

[@stegsjenga5088]

I watched Coventry beat Leicester at home last season, and Maresca very much looked like he had no plan B. Well, maybe it was just a bad day.

[@edwardnganga]

Bro there for Mudryk yooh We have Neto/Nkunku But I can't give my hopes high😢

[@kdriscoll57]

Excellent video

[@kaelopitse5956]

this seasons chelsea squad is soo good on paper one of the best in the league

[@jin12345678]

are we looking at the same squad lmao I'm not saying they can't do well this season, but on paper they come nowhere near best in the league in terms of quality and depth

[@abdimusa5526]

@@jin12345678 lol depth is the one thing we DEFINITELY have. and we are also on paper the best team in the prem

[@JarelDavid-f5d]

@@jin12345678we got the best midfielder best fullback best rw in Palmer if nkunku stays fit he’s clear so yes we have a top squad

[@saindst]

@@jin12345678 I know you don't want to overhype, but in all honesty on paper, they may even be second best. But most likely 3rd.

[@WastingTime1878]

@@abdimusa5526you lot are so deluded its funny.

[@djcrossie]

Judging by pre season the only thing we'll see is Chelsea conceding a ton of goals and looking like a defensive shambles

[@sameerbrown673]

Haaland was very scared during his hatrick 🙂

[@tamps3835]

I saw stiff Reece James trying to invert and I laughed. Hold the width big man😂

[@Demon1987AS]

The best football content and presenter on KZbin.

[@kesekwame7364]

I love this guy's analysis ❤❤😂😂😂

[@iirovaltonen4258]

The only people who should be afraid of Maresca's Chelsea is the board because they actually have hope. Fans, players and everyone else knows that Chelsea is not even a paper tiger, its a paper squirrel.

[@adb_500]

6 goals conceded in one and half games

[@judas57650]

chelsea first team just got beaten by man c kids🙄

[@tcf2142]

Enzo is better suited alongside inverted fb instead of being played further ahead.poch misprofiled him.caicedo can play in the midfield.its not that complex.lavia comes off the bench

[@iamjordonbarnett]

Can’t wait to watch Chelsea play this season. It’ll be a fun experiment.

[@jamiebates8274]

0:43 "Leichester City" 😂😂😂😂😂 I see what you did there. There are people that actually pronounce it like that

[@motherbear5997]

Cole Palmer probably better than Dewsbury Hall in that role