Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea reign is just one month outdated, nevertheless it has been filled with all of the antics, uncertainty and confusion that followers have come to know over the previous two seasons.
After starting the season with defeat to Manchester Metropolis, Maresca’s facet thumped Wolves and had been pegged again by Crystal Palace (sure we’re counting the sport on September 1 right here, recover from it), with a completely unconvincing Convention League play-off victory over Servette thrown into the combination as nicely.
There are simply as many questions surrounding Chelsea as there are solutions, however listed here are 5 key takeaways from Maresca’s first month within the Stamford Bridge dugout.
Maresca has clearly put his religion in a centre-back pairing of Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana. The duo performed each minute of Premier League motion throughout August (and the 1-1 draw with Palace on September 1).
There have been teething points – in fact there have, contemplating these two have barely shared a pitch earlier than this yr – however there has positively been so much to love.
Whereas the likes of Benoit Badiashile and Tosin Adarabioyo are but to impress, these two children are actually cementing themselves as a duo which followers can get behind.
Proper, and with the optimism in regards to the defence now out of the way in which, it is time to focus on the plain elephant within the room. Chelsea have stored only one clear sheet this season, and that got here within the uncomfortable 2-0 win over Servette within the Convention League.
The defensive fragility which plagued Mauricio Pochettino’s facet is alive and kicking below Maresca, whose divisive ways undoubtedly result in an abundance of possibilities for opponents.
Whether or not the defence is not arrange proper or there is a woeful lack of canopy from midfield, Maresca has to determine the answer to this drawback in September.
Pochettino’s departure threatened to trigger actual issues for Cole Palmer. Chelsea’s cold-blooded starboy didn’t shrink back from crediting his former boss for his breakout season, and there have been indicators early within the Maresca reign that Palmer will not be himself this yr.
Nevertheless, with a aim and 4 assists to his identify in three Premier League video games, it is clear Palmer continues to be feeling pretty much as good as ever.
Maresca realized shortly that enjoying Palmer on the precise wing, as he did within the 2-0 defeat to Manchester Metropolis, was not going to work. He introduced Palmer again central, and the enjoyable has not stopped since.
Maresca’s brutal method to administration has not been type to Mykhailo Mudryk, who has been on the tip of a public show of frustration from the brand new boss. The arrivals of Joao Felix and Jadon Sancho are a transparent signal that Maresca doesn’t have time to develop the Ukraine worldwide.
Over on the precise facet of the pitch, nevertheless, Noni Madueke has actually stood up and introduced himself.
Going through questions on his angle and his performances from final season, Madueke has silenced his critics with 4 objectives in 4 video games, shortly moving into the highlight within the course of.
Carrying the captain’s armband within the absence of the injured Reece James, we’ve got as soon as once more seen Enzo Fernandez trialled in a handful of various positions.
The Argentina worldwide has performed at each the highest and the underside of Chelsea’s midfield, typically switching between the 2 roles in a single sport looking for a optimistic affect.
It hasn’t been disasterous in any respect, however followers anticipate a lot extra from the £107m midfielder, who could also be trying over his shoulder as soon as Romeo Lavia returns to full health.