A former Chelsea winger has given his verdict on Enzo Maresca's impact at Stamford Bridge.
Former Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips has praised Enzo Maresca for the impact he has made at Stamford Bridge, but believes there are still areas for improvement.
Wright-Phillips, who played for Chelsea between 2005 and 2008, has been impressed with Maresca's ability to implement a new style of play and manage a transitional period at the club.
)
What Wright-Phillips said about Maresca, Chelsea
The Blues are currently fourth in the Premier League table, having finished sixth last season. However, they have only won two of their last eight league matches and Wright-Phillips believes that there are still some "cracks" in the team.
He highlights the mistakes that have cost Chelsea points, such as goalkeeper Robert Sanchez's continued errors before losing his place against West Ham and Levi Colwill’s bad backpass that led to Jarrod Bowen's goal in the same game.
Wright-Phillips believes that Maresca is still trying to figure out his best team and that there are still areas that need to be addressed.
PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the Latest Soccer News in Nigeria from Pulse Sports
)
"In areas, they've still been good,” Wright-Phillips told Sports Mole. “I just think it's the mistakes that have cost them and not taking chances, I'd say, has been effective.
"I think they were good early on in the season before the Christmas period, in many ways of outscoring teams or teams making them make a mistake, not getting punished. And then they'll go and catch them on the break and score goals. And they were putting games to bed.
"It kind of covered over certain cracks in terms of whether [Robert] Sanchez made a mistake or there was a bad back pass, like against West Ham, where obviously [Jarrod] Bowen goes through and scores.
)
23:31 - 03.02.2025
It was unusual - Chelsea icon surprised by one thing Maresca did against West Ham
Joe Cole was surprised by a tactical decision made by Enzo Maresca during Monday’s victory against West Ham.
So those mistakes will still be there because it's still early days for Maresca and the way he wants him to play. And he's still figuring out, in many ways, his best pair and centre-backs to play with who he wants to be his number one goalkeeper."
Despite these concerns, Wright-Phillips is optimistic about Chelsea's future under Maresca. He believes that the Italian has done a fantastic job so far and that the team is heading in the right direction.
"So there are still areas,” continued the retired winger. “But for me, I think he's done fantastic with the load of players that he had there to sort out what he needed and what he wants within that team to play the way he wants to play. I think he's done an amazing job."
What next for Chelsea?
Maresca’s men are in FA Cup fourth-round action on Saturday (today) at Brighton & Hove Albion.