Maresca’s Ideas Finally Working At Chelsea

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It became apparent quite fast that Enzo Maresca moved to Chelsea with a strong plan, ready to turn the things upside down in the London club. The Argentinian started with a shaky pre-season and a loss to the reigning champions in the first round of Premier League, but then went on an undefeated streak.

His team shows a lot of potential, beautiful game and quality performances. Using reputable ratings will help you squeeze the most from the predictions on Chelsea’s future matches.

The first game against Manchester City

How Chelsea attacked: Maresca used the 3-2-5 formation, which did not contain false fullbacks. Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia operated in the defensive area. In the 67th minute, the Belgian player left, and Enzo Fernandez replaced him.

Features: Various roles played by wingers. Cole Palmer shifted to the centre, and Christopher Nkunku and Pedro Neto kept an open position. As a result, the fullbacks played different roles: Malo Gusto participated in the attacks, while Marc Cucurella remained deep.

How Chelsea defended: They combined 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1 formations, sometimes using pinpoint pressure.

Characteristics: The role of Enzo Fernandez. Before moving to the defensive zone, the Argentine helped Chelsea to change from 4-2-3-1 to 4-4-2 and back, using pressure.

Chelsea’s Spanish defender #03 Marc Cucurella (C) celebrates scoring the team’s first goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Brentford at Stamford Bridge in London on December 15, 2024. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP) /

The first game against Servette

How Chelsea attacked: Using 3-2-4-1 formation. Maresca used a false fullback for the first time in an official match when Renato Veiga shifted into the midfield zone. Mark Gui played a false nine. In the second half of the game, the role passed to Cole Palmer.

Features: Both wingers held high positions, unlike the game against City. The fullbacks also faced several problems: the right one, Axel Disasi, stayed low. The eights shifted into the depths and filled the semi-flanks.

How Chelsea defended: The 4-1-4-1 formation with pinpoint pressure.

Features: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall played the eight in 4-1-4-1 formation, but could move down the field, changing the team to 4-2-3-1. Enzo Fernandez played a similar role in the game against City, but shifted not into a more accurate, but into a more aggressive structure.

Away game against Wolverhampton

Chelsea’s Senegalese striker #15 Nicolas Jackson celebrates scoring the team’s second goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Brentford at Stamford Bridge in London on December 15, 2024. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP) /

How Chelsea attacked: Enzo Maresca used the inverted fullback again. Chelsea played 3-2-4-1 in attack.

Features: How eights played. The left one (Enzo Fernandez) went down more often to help with the ball’s progress, as it was in the game against Servette. Palmer was higher up. Thus, the final third was attacked together.

How Chelsea defended: Maresca used 4-1-4-1 again, as in the game against Servette. Visually, the pressure worked out more.

Features: Chelsea used more personalized defending. Even the center-defenders were running after their opponents from the first line. It seems that Servette’s defense was zonal.

The second leg against Servette

How Chelsea attacked: 3-2-4-1 again with an inverted fullback, wide roles for eights and wingers in high positions. Enzo Maresca continued to follow the same pattern as in the first match against Servette and away against Wolves.

Features: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall played the left eight, which visually dropped more often to advance the ball, and Christopher Nkunku played the right eight, which attacked in the final third. Mark Giu stayed in the middle line, but not as often as in the first game.

How Chelsea defended: 4-1-4-1 again.

Features: Nkunku shifted the team to 4-4-2 formation, which was more aggressive. In the initial 4-1-4-1, Enzo Fernandez was the only defensive midfielder.

Draw with Crystal Palace

How Chelsea attacked: Classic 4-3-3, but a bit modified.

Features: At the end of August, it seemed that Maresca had come to a stable attack system: an inverted fullback – into the support zone, a conditional scheme – 3-2-4-1.

On September 1, Enzo refreshed his approach. In the derby against Palace, Moises Caicedo dropped into the first line, which Maresca had not done before. Malo Gusto turned into an eight at the same time, and Wesley Fofana went wide on the flank.

The inverted fullback remained but began to shift not to the defensive zone, but to a higher area.

How Chelsea defended: According to the 5-4-1 formation.

Features: Take a look at Noni Madueke. Without the ball, the Briton was in a low position. This is probably how Maresca reacted to the arrangement of Palace with three central defenders: in defense, someone had to meet wingback Tyrick Mitchell.

Concluding remarks

Enzo Maresca already showed great potential as a manager of a top club. The coach professionally administered a huge squad full of different personalities. After the beginning of the season, his team has gone through a lot of transformations, but it keeps delivering resultsto whoever plays on the field.