TACTICAL SHIFT: ENZO MARESCA'S METHOD MAKES CHELSEA TITLE CONTENDERS
Chelsea is on the rise under Enzo Maresca. After a 3-0 win over Barcelona, can they close the gap on Arsenal? Full analysis.
After a tough few years, Chelsea, under Enzo Maresca, looks like they're finally gelling and have their sights set on catching Arsenal.
In Tuesday’s Champions League match, Chelsea beat Barcelona 3-0. As the clock ticked down, Chelsea fans couldn't resist teasing the losing side, chanting "olé" with every pass.
The fans have missed this feeling. There's a new buzz around Stamford Bridge. After a shaky start under the new ownership, with changes in coaches and players, there's a sense that the team is heading back to the top of European football. The BlueCo project seems to be paying off.
Chelsea is now second in the Premier League and could be within three points of the lead if they beat Arsenal on Sunday.
They might not be ready to win the whole thing yet, but they’re not the same mess they used to be. Under Maresca, they've won four out of their last five games, with no goals scored against them in those wins.
Last season's trophies came with some debate. Some said winning the Conference League was expected, and others downplayed their Club World Cup win. But the way they dominated Paris Saint-Germain in the final was a statement, showing what they can do with the right players and coaching.
Star player Cole Palmer is close to returning after being out for two months. Things are looking up for Chelsea.
Maresca's Approach
At a club known for planning far into the future, Maresca keeps the focus on the present.
The 45-year-old coach isn't interested in long-term distractions. He’s focused on improving after each game and choosing the right players.
Will he be around for the long haul? Possibly. When he was hired last July, the owners decided to give him at least two seasons to bring stability to the team.
In a little over a year, Maresca has done a good job. Last year, Chelsea was near the top of the league for a while, won some trophies, and got back into the Champions League.
Maresca believes the team has improved a lot. Chelsea is more composed now than they were earlier in the season. Marc Cucurella says the team is settling, calmer, and more mature.
They have more control in games, and more players are scoring goals, instead of relying just on Palmer and Nicolas Jackson.
Maresca learned from Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, but he’s also been criticised for playing it too safe, limiting the freedom of players like Palmer.
Still, his possession-based approach has become more successful. His clear tactics have helped the young team. Maresca stands out as the only Premier League manager who hasn't used a player over 30.
Chelsea has a great youth academy, and Maresca gives those players opportunities. Jesse Derry chose Chelsea because Maresca gives young talent a chance to train and play with the first team.
Maresca also manages players’ time on the field well, giving key players rest when he can.
Barcelona's coach, Hansi Flick, recently called Chelsea one of the best teams in the world. The fans are behind Maresca.
The Estevao Factor
Estêvão has a way of getting fans excited as soon as he touches the ball. Former Chelsea player Pat Nevin said that Estêvão is special. You’re talking about Messi and Ronaldo.”
Like the fans, Nevin can't hide his excitement about Estêvão's potential.
Next summer, more young players will join Chelsea.
Chelsea's focus on young players doesn't seem to be slowing down.
Even though Chelsea has relied on Palmer, the team has shown they can win. They’ve won 12 out of 15 games without him this season.
Enzo Fernández and Caicedo, who were signed for a lot of money, are finally playing like it.
João Pedro is among the top players in the league for goal contributions, and other new players are starting to perform well.
Chelsea's recruitment is focused on the future, but they also made quick decisions in the summer to balance the books. They sold or loaned out a lot of players and brought in Facundo Buonanotte on loan.
They still have players like Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi who aren't playing. Conor Gallagher, a Chelsea academy product, was sold to make money.
Chelsea was one of the top sellers in the league this summer.
The owners, along with Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, are often seen watching games. Dave Fallows, who was behind Liverpool's signing of Mohamed Salah, recently joined to work on football development.
The plan is starting to work
Chelsea may not be ready to win the Premier League yet, but they are building a strong base.
There are still things to work on. They might need better centre-backs and a better goalkeeper in the future.
They also need to improve their discipline. Maresca himself has received several yellow cards.
Injuries have been a problem, but they need to find ways to beat teams that play defensively.
Getting big wins is important for the fans. Beating PSG was a boost, and this season they've also beaten Liverpool, Tottenham, and Barcelona.
The team spirit is better than it has been in a long time. They keep winning.
COLE PALMER MISSES PENALTY AS CHELSEA SUFFER HISTORIC SIXTH CONSECUTIVE LEAGUE DEFEAT
Chelsea matched a 1912 record with their 6th straight loss, falling 3-1 to Forest as Taiwo Awoniyi scored twice at the Bridge.
_1777913525.webp)
Chelsea hit rock bottom again, losing 3-1 to Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge. That’s six Premier League defeats in a row now, something the club hadn’t seen since 1912. Just when you thought the season couldn’t get any worse, Forest showed up with a makeshift lineup and absolutely stunned them. Taiwo Awoniyi scored twice, one barely a minute into the match, and then Igor Jesus put away a penalty, and suddenly Forest was six points clear of the drop zone.
Chelsea hadn’t scored in five games, and it looked like that streak would go on forever. Then, in stoppage time, Joao Pedro finally managed an overhead kick to break the drought. That run was made even more ridiculous earlier when Cole Palmer missed a first-half penalty. Matz Sels, Forest’s backup goalkeeper, saved it.
Honestly, the crowd in the Shed End probably barely recognised their own team. Pereira swapped in seven new outfield players, most of them with almost no league experience; he was clearly thinking about the upcoming Europa League semi-final. But it looked like Chelsea was the stranger out there.
Things only got worse for interim head coach Calum McFarlane. He lost Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho to late injuries, so 18-year-old Jesse Derry had to make his Premier League debut. Then, late in the first half, Derry collided heads with Forest’s Zach Abbott and had to be stretchered off after getting oxygen. It was brutal to watch.
The match itself? Chaos. Less than two minutes in, Chelsea messed up their own throw-in and let Forest stroll through midfield. Dilane Bakwa beat Marc Cucurella with little effort and crossed to Awoniyi, who was completely unmarked and headed it in.
Fifteen minutes later, Chelsea conceded again. Bakwa whipped in another cross; Malo Gusto pulled Awoniyi’s shirt, and VAR handed Forest a penalty. Jesus hammered it right down the middle.
The first half was hopeless, and by the end, serious concern set in after that nasty head clash between Derry and Abbott. Abbott, playing just his second league game, left on his own, but Derry needed serious treatment and was stretchered off.
After a nearly ten-minute stoppage, Palmer’s penalty was stopped by Sels. At halftime, Levi Colwill returned from a major injury he hadn’t played since tearing his ACL in August. He tried to restore order, but nothing changed.
Forest’s third goal came just seven minutes into the second half. Gibbs-White crossed, and Awoniyi tapped in from close range, just managing to stay onside. Chelsea’s keeper, Robert Sanchez, took a knock and left with a bandaged head after colliding with Gibbs-White.
Pedro’s late goal barely counted for anything. The few Chelsea fans left in the stadium cheered, but it was more out of irony than joy.
JESSE DERRY MAKES FIRST CHELSEA START AS MCFARLANE SHUFFLES THE TACTICAL DECK
Chelsea stars Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto miss the Forest clash with knocks, handing 18-year-old Jesse Derry a shock start.
Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto both picked up knocks before Chelsea’s match against Nottingham StadiumNest has learnt. They’d started in last weekend’s FA Cup semi-final, but both missed out on the squad at Stamford Bridge this time.
Calum McFarlane spoke to Sky Sports before kickoff and explained what happened. “It’s nothing serious, just knocks in training. We’re just managing it,” he said.
With them out, Jesse Derry and Cole Palmer came into the starting lineup. Derry, just 18 and only recently breaking into the Chelsea first team, now had a big chance. McFarlane spoke highly of him: “It’s a great opportunity for Jesse. He’s been training with us a lot, he’s played in other games, and we know what he can do. I’ve worked with him before. The lads trust him, and so do I. He’s been excellent in training. We’re really excited for him.”
On Friday at Cobham, Chelsea’s interim boss said the win at Wembley lifted everyone’s mood. “When things aren’t going well, it’s tough. You're not getting the results you want, and it weighs on you. But a single win can turn all that around. The atmosphere has been good, the lads are training well, and the staff feel it too. The energy’s back at Cobham, so we want to keep that going.”
Now, at 38, McFarlane takes charge for the first time at Stamford Bridge. “I’m really looking forward to it. Forest is a strong side, and it’ll be tough, but it’s an honour to lead the team here. I’ve been part of the backroom staff before, but this is something different. Leading the side in front of the home fans? That’s special. I hope we can put in a performance as we did at Wembley.”
He knows the crowd has a big part to play. “We need the fans behind us, bringing energy and really backing the team. There’s still so much to play for; the cup final’s coming, and Champions League qualification is up for grabs. We want to win every game left. Two more at the Bridge, right? We want to make them count, so we need everyone pulling together.”
Chelsea fell behind in the race for the Champions League under Liam Rosenior, dropping 10 points off the pace. Is top-four still possible? McFarlane kept it simple: “All we can do is win our games and not worry about the rest. If we focus on our own performance, the results will take care of themselves. It’s about each match, each day, each session.”
Forest, fresh off a 1-0 first-leg win over Aston Villa in the Europa League semi-finals, is no easy opponent. McFarlane knows that. “They’re in really good form, packed with quality and real threats. So, it’s another huge challenge, just like every Premier League game. But we’ll be ready.”
Must Read
