Enzo Maresca is set to become the new head coach of Chelsea, with Pep Guardiola having already praised him as an ‘extraordinary’ manager, drawing comparisons to Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta.
Following Mauricio Pochettino’s departure last week, Maresca is expected to take over at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea seeks stability in their managerial position.
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The 44-year-old recently enjoyed a successful season at Leicester City, leading the Foxes back to the Premier League in his first year in charge.
This followed a less successful tenure at Parma in Serie B. However, Maresca comes to Chelsea with high praise from Manchester City boss Guardiola, one of football’s most respected coaches.
Guardiola compares Enzo Maresca to Mikel Arteta
Maresca worked as one of Guardiola’s assistant managers from 2022 to 2023, but his most notable achievements came from his time managing Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad.
He joined City in August 2020, and under his leadership, the club’s Under-23 team won the Premier League 2.
During that season, he worked with young talents like Cole Palmer, Tommy Doyle, and Liam Delap. Palmer, notably, now plays a key role at Chelsea.
Following this title-winning season, Guardiola lauded Maresca’s contributions, likening him to Arteta, who also started his coaching career under Guardiola before moving to Arsenal in 2019.
Guardiola said in May 2021: ‘We are delighted with Enzo Maresca, all the organisation he has done with the EDS [elite development squad], he showed he will become an extraordinary manager in the future. Extraordinary.
‘I feel it. Like I felt it when I saw Mikel Arteta I see it with Enzo, [he] will be an extraordinary manager and he helped to develop many, many young players.’
Guardiola’s endorsement will surely excite Chelsea fans. Comparisons to Arteta are promising, given how the Arsenal manager has revitalized the Gunners and pushed them back into Premier League title contention by overhauling the squad.
Maresca’s experience with young talent is particularly encouraging, considering Chelsea’s current pool of promising players who need development and direction after a challenging 2022-23 season.
Maresca’s relationship with Cole Palmer and Cesare Casadei
Maresca’s familiarity with Cole Palmer, whom he worked with at City, and Cesare Casadei is notable.
Casadei, another talented young player, spent the first half of the 2023-24 season on loan at Leicester before returning to Chelsea in January.
Speaking after Casadei’s debut goal for Leicester against Cardiff in August, Maresca said of the youngster: ‘I said to Cesare the only way to score a goal for an attacking midfielder is to be inside the box,’ said Maresca.
‘Everything in football happens inside the box. Cesare, one of his strengths is to arrive in the box.’
