The hiring of Enzo Maresca as the new Chelsea manager was certainly one that surprised a number of supporters when they were looking to replace Mauricio Pochettino.
The Italian had just won the Championship with Leicester City, before a few months later he was coaching his first win for Chelsea in pre-season against Club America.
Maresca has never managed in the Premier League, however has experience working at a top club in the form of Manchester City.
He worked closely with Pep Guardiola, who he will face on the opening day of the Premier League season at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca has now told the Mail Online just how the Spaniard reacted when he found out his former colleague was making the move to Chelsea.
Pep Guardiola happy Chelsea hired Enzo Maresca
He said: “When I joined Chelsea, he was very happy because he is sure with timing, we can build something important. If I am where I am now, it is because of him.”
The players have now had a number of weeks of working under the Italian with the Blues, and the result of some of those training sessions has begun to show up in games.
Running in behind and cutting back was on show against Club America in particular, and this has reportedly been a key element in sessions under their new manager over in the United States.
Chelsea players proving themselves before Manchester City game
A number of first team players are looking to make the most of these final few friendlies coming up this summer in an attempt to prove that they should be starting the first game of the Premier League season.
Who will start in midfield is an interesting discussion, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall staking his claim with a great debut earlier this week.
Romeo Lavia is another player who is staking his claim, after he was unable to make any form of impact last season due to his personal injury woes.
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