Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca is one of several current managers whose coaching career has been heavily influenced by Pep Guardiola.
Enzo Maresca, 45, is in the dugout during his debut season as the Chelsea head coach, which is one of the biggest jobs in England.
Even though the Blues’ campaign still hangs in the balance because they’re battling for Champions League qualification, Enzo Maresca’s position at Chelsea is safe.
| Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses |
| 51 | 30 | 9 | 12 |
Like a number of top-level managers, including Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta, Maresca previously worked as a young coach under Pep Guardiola. He operated at Manchester City as one of Guardiola’s assistants before moving into senior management himself, which eventually led to joining Chelsea last summer.
The basic fundamentals of Guardiola’s philosophy are possession-based football with quick passing and high pressing. Despite many coaches trying, it’s not so easy to replicate to the same level at other clubs.
Don Hutchison claims Enzo Maresca has instructed Chelsea to be more direct
According to pundit Don Hutchison, Chelsea are getting the ball forward a lot quicker in their last couple of matches against Everton and Djurgarden.
He suggests that Maresca has slightly diverted from the Guardiola method to help get wins over Everton (Premier League) and Djurgarden (Conference League).
Hutchison said on TNT Sports 1 (11:15pm, 1 May): “Over the last month or two, especially at the Bridge, I got the sense that you could tell Maresca was a disciple of Guardiola because it was slow. The last couple of weeks off the back of the Everton game, they’re passing the ball forward a lot more and quicker. They’re getting Jackson chances. They’re getting the ball to Madueke.
“I thought tonight [against Djurgarden] was an indication that there must have been a different plan of attack because every time they got it in midfield, instead of going squad or sideways and having a pedestrian side, they got the ball forward into your frontmen and wide men.”
When you factor in that Chelsea’s forward line includes rapid attackers such as Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto and Nicolas Jackson, it’s definitely not a bad thing to sometimes be a bit more direct in possession. They’ve got a great supply line with creative playmakers Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer, too.
Back in August 2024, Pep Guardiola insisted Enzo Maresca would need time at Chelsea to grow into the successful coach he believes he will be.
We’re sensing an impatience around the Blues fanbase right now, particularly in the second half of the season, because their play can be a bit lethargic and without end product. At this stage in the season, the Blues needs results by any means possible to get back in the Champions League.
It takes time and a special bunch of individuals to master Guardiola’s tactics like the great Manchester City and Barcelona teams of the past.
What Levi Colwill said about Enzo Maresca this season is quite telling
While fans may be on the fence about Maresca, the noise about him coming out of the dressing room seems very positive.
Speaking in March, Chelsea centre-back Levi Colwill raved about Enzo Maresca’s football brain. He said: “I think with Maresca, the way he thinks about football is light years above everyone else… He is pushing me to understand football in a different way. That’s why I’m very blessed to play football under him and learn as much as possible.”
In the first half of the 2024/25 season, Chelsea played an attacking style of football under Maresca that supporters could immediately buy into.
It’ll be interesting to see if the Italian coach can get back in the good books with the fanbase. Ultimately, they don’t mind possession-based football if it results in chances at the end of it.
