Chelsea have a tough start to the 2024/25 Premier League season, with the Blues taking on champions Manchester City in their first game.
Last term, Chelsea actually managed to hold City to a draw twice. The two English giants played out a 4-4 thriller at Stamford Bridge before a 1-1 tie at the Etihad.
Chelsea and City also met in the FA Cup semi-finals — the latter won 1-0 on the day — so they had a few battles in the previous campaign.
Tosin Adarabioyo, who used to play for City, could feature in their next one when Pep Guardiola’s men travel to Stamford Bridge on August 18.
Adarabioyo and Enzo Maresca are getting along well, and the central defender has told Chelsea supporters what they can expect when their side host the Premier League champions next month.
Tosin Adarabioyo’s expectations for Chelsea vs Manchester City
Maresca has not been in west London for too long. The Italian was only appointed as the new Chelsea manager in June.
It means that he has not had too much time to train with the players and implement his ideas.
Nevertheless, Adarabioyo thinks Chelsea supporters will still see Maresca’s style in the Blues’ first game of the season.
Speaking to football.london, the 26-year-old said: “From day one, he’s been implementing his style of play and we’re all buying into it. It’s a lot of football. We’re enjoying it.
“Wait and see [what we can expect from a Maresca Chelsea]. I’ll say wait and see. We’ll show a glimpse of that in pre-season, but come the first game of the season, you’ll definitely see the style.”
What formation will Enzo Maresca use against Manchester City?
During his time at Leicester City, Maresca often used a 4-3-3 formation. Therefore, you would expect him to do the same at Chelsea.
He has good midfield options, being able to call upon the likes of Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Romeo Lavia.
The last of that trio missed practically the whole of the 2023/24 campaign, but Lavia dazzled Chelsea supporters in the club’s first pre-season friendly against Wrexham during the week, now fully fit again.
Maresca also has some very good options for the position just behind the striker in Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku, so there is always the possibility of the former Leicester boss using a 4-2-3-1 formation instead.
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