A constructive run of outcomes has modified the conversations surrounding Chelsea’s future after a chaotic summer time switch window, with the Blues seemingly heading in the right direction underneath newly appointed supervisor Enzo Maresca.

Chelsea are at present 4th within the Premier League with 14 factors from 7 league video games, with an comprehensible single loss in opposition to Pep Guardiola’s Metropolis. The choice to half methods with Mauricio Pochettino appears to be paying off, as Chelsea had 8 factors after 7 Premier League video games final season, with three video games misplaced by this stage of the season.

A major +6 factors enchancment appears to have modified the temper at Stamford Bridge, with Enzo Maresca elevating the expectations of the Chelsea trustworthy.

Chelsea thrives underneath Enzo Maresca

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Enzo Maresca’s tactical setup has had a major impression on his gamers, with noticeable enhancements in sure gamers who appeared to battle final season underneath the administration of Pochettino. Moises Caicedo seems extra just like the €133 million Brighton participant that Chelsea paid for, dictating play and providing high quality defensive protecting for Chelsea’s attacking gamers.

Below Pochettino, Caicedo regarded like a shadow of himself, typically remoted in midfield with giant areas to cowl and few passing choices. Noni Madueke, who was a peripheral determine final season, has additionally been in fantastic type this season, with 5 (5) targets in eight (8) video games in all competitions this season.

They’ve additionally been a qualitative enchancment in Nicolas Jackson‘s ending this season, which has seen the Senegalese striker rating 4 (4) targets from an xG of 5. Maresca’s glorious man administration abilities have additionally been crucial in bringing the most effective out of Man United reject Jadon Sancho, who had beforehand struggled to make his mark underneath Ten Hag.

The younger winger has produced three assists in 4 Premier League matches this season, with an anticipated help of 0.88 whereas creating a complete of eight possibilities. For context, since signing for United within the 2021/2022 season, essentially the most assists Sancho has produced in a League season is three.

Sancho is clearly having fun with a brand new lease of life underneath Enzo Maresca. A change on the dugout has additionally had no destructive influence on Cole Palmer, who has continued the place he left off final season with six targets and 5 assists this season.

Can Maresca Lead Chelsea Again to the Prime?

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Maresca’s adaptability has additionally performed a vital function in Chelsea’s good run of type, exhibiting a willingness to adapt to his gamers’s strengths and weaknesses whereas additionally being versatile along with his strategy in opposition to opposition managers. His tactical setup in his earlier managerial stint as Leicester Metropolis’s head coach was a closely disciplined model of positional soccer, with each participant mandated to function inside a strict system of possession-based soccer.

At Chelsea, Maresca has been prepared to permit his gamers a degree of positional freedom, with the gamers free to seek out options inside themselves. This freedom has translated into some very high-scoring and entertaining matches, with Chelsea among the many league’s prime golf equipment for direct assaults and quick breaks. They’re the league’s second-highest scorers with 16 targets from 14.7 xG. Defensively, they’ve additionally been making slight enhancements, with the Blues rating sixth for xG in opposition to having conceded eight targets from 7.9 xGA.

There’s clearly nonetheless room for enchancment, however there’s little doubt that Chelsea are heading in the right direction underneath the administration and recreation mannequin of Enzo Maresca. It’s too early to categorise Maresca’s Chelsea as real title contenders, however indicators have been constructive as they’ve been in a position to reply totally different questions thrown at them.

They’ve proven that they will play by means of an aggressive highline, as showcased of their 4-2 demolition of Brighton, and now have the technical high quality to interrupt down cussed low blocks. The squad could be removed from being the completed article, however it’s clear that Enzo Maresca has what it takes to revive Chelsea’s standing within the higher echelons of European soccer.